2021 Map of Airport Lake

About this map

The northern reaches of the Mojave Desert meet the volcanic geology of the Coso Range in this Inyo County survey. This arid landscape is defined by its deep drainages and volcanic formations, most notably Volcano Butte and the winding Petroglyph Canyon. Water movement in this dry climate is traced through Coso Wash, which feeds into the Coso Basin. Human presence is minimal and restricted to the periphery, where Darwin Rd skirts the eastern edge of the White Hills. The survey illustrates a terrain of extreme isolation, where deep incisions like Renegade Canyon provide the only major relief in a territory characterized by its vast alluvial basins and ancient geologic activity. This map captures the region's topographical complexity, showing how ancient volcanic features rise abruptly from the desert floor.