1951 Map of Avawatz Pass

About this map

Death Valley National Monument and the Camp Irwin Military Reservation dominate this mid-century survey of the California desert. The landscape is defined by the convergence of the Ibex Mountains and the Avawatz Mountains, separated by the ephemeral Amargosa River. Mining operations appear clustered in the northern hills, including the Superior Mine, Whitecap Mine, and Saratoga Mine, illustrating the extractive industry that persisted in these arid ranges. Critical water sources like Saratoga Spr and Old Mormon Spr provided necessary stops for travelers navigating the high-elevation crossings at Ibex Pass and Avawatz Pass. These springs and passes indicate the historical travel routes used before the establishment of modern military and park boundaries.