2014 Map of Alcatraz Island

About this map

Clayton Valley and the dry expanse of the Ralston Desert dominate this corner of Esmeralda County, Nevada. The terrain is characterized by stark landforms including the uplifted Alcatraz Island and Angel Island, namesakes of their more famous coastal counterparts but here standing as high points above the desert floor. Water is a rare presence in this arid environment, evidenced only by the seasonal drainage of Lida Wash and the ephemeral Birch Cr. Navigation through this desolate area is centered on NV-265, which cuts across the western portion of the valley. The map documents the vast public land system of the Great Basin, where topographic relief is defined by the steep contours of Clayton Ridge and isolated desert buttes.