2014 Map of Big Pass

About this map

The Newfoundland Mountains rise sharply out of the western desert floor, creating a stark contrast with the low-lying terrain to the west. This 2014 survey documents the isolated desert corridor known as Big Pass, a notable geographic break in the mountain range that historically influenced movement through this arid region. To the west, the landscape is dominated by the Newfoundland Evaporation Basin, reflecting the unique salt-flat and basin hydrology of the Great Salt Lake desert area. The map illustrates the rigid divisions of the Public Land Survey System, including t5n r14w and t4n r14w, which define the administrative grid over this largely unpopulated wilderness. This edition captures the topography of the range before modern digital refinements, preserving the contours of a land shaped by ancient lake levels and desert erosion.