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2012 Map of Big Hard Pan

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Big Hard Pan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

Spring Valley Creek and the expansive desert terrain of White Pine County define this eastern Nevada landscape. This survey of the Great Basin interior highlights the drainage patterns and ephemeral water features characteristic of the region, where waterways often terminate in arid sinks. The presence of the Big Hard Pan suggests a dry lake bed or playa surface, a common geological feature in this high-desert environment.

Several named mountain-fed drainages, including Muncy Creek, Kalamazoo Creek, and Meadow Creek, descend from the surrounding ranges toward the valley floor. Near the northern edge of the sheet, Dust Bowl Lake sits alongside Spring Valley Wash and White Cloud Wash, marking points where seasonal runoff collects. This 2012 documentation provides a clear look at the hydrologic structure of the valley before any modern alterations to the water table or land use.