1955 Map of Big Maria Mts. SE

About this map

Ancient geoglyphs known as the Giant Indian Intaglios overlook the valley floor where the Colorado River carves the boundary between California and Arizona. This 1955 survey, updated with 1970 aerial photography, reveals a riverside landscape defined by a mix of mid-century recreation and rugged desert terrain. Small riverfront outposts like River Bend Lodge, Harkers Camp, and Thompsons Camp dot the western bank, while the eastern shore is dominated by the Colorado River Indian Reservation. The map captures the river's complex hydrology before extensive modern alteration, showing named landforms like Horse Island and Hall Island. Inland to the west, the Big Maria Mountains rise sharply, marked by various Prospect sites and the prominent Black Point, reflecting the region's mining and geological history.