1971 Map of Adams Mesa

About this map

Sugarloaf Mtn and Herder Mtn dominate the arid, high-relief landscape of this 1971 orthophotoquad in Maricopa County. Unlike traditional topographic maps that use contour lines to represent elevation, this photogrammetric mosaic provides a direct aerial perspective of the scrub-covered ridges and desert floor. The visual texture of the land reveals the complex drainage patterns of the Creek and its unnamed tributaries as they cut through the rocky terrain. This specific format, based on 1:78,000-scale aerial photographs, emphasizes the natural geomorphology of the area over man-made structures, offering a clear record of the undisturbed environment in central Arizona during the early 1970s.