1986 Map of Big Hard Pan

About this map

The Big Hard Pan Depression dominates this arid landscape in eastern Nevada, defining a wide basin characterized by ephemeral hydrology. The presence of numerous Dry Lakes and a large central Dry Lake suggests a seasonal cycle of flooding and intense evaporation typical of the Great Basin. Water sources are scarce, marked by isolated features like Spring and the ironically named Dust Bowl Lake. Several drainage systems including Valley Creek, Kalamazoo Creek, and Muncy Creek flow toward the depression, while Gravel Pits indicate localized surface mining activity during the mid-1980s. The map illustrates a remote terrain where the movement of water is the primary sculptor of the land, terminating in the vast flat of the pan.