1965 Map of Alturas

About this map

Alturas serves as the central hub for the Modoc Plateau, where the high desert meets the volcanic legacy of the Medicine Lake Highland and Lava Beds National Monument. This mid-century survey illustrates an expansive landscape of managed timber and water, dominated by the Modoc National Forest and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The map captures the complex hydrology of the region, from the seasonal fluctuations of Goose Lake to the vital irrigation systems of the Tule Lake Sump and Clear Lake Reservoir. Local ranching and agricultural life are anchored by settlements like Cedarville in the Surprise Valley and Bieber in the Big Valley. The transportation corridor is defined by the intersection of Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroad lines, tracing the movement of resources through the remote northeastern corner of California and into the Klamath County Lake County borderlands.