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2021 Map of Bitter Spring

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Bitter Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

Bitter Spring serves as a critical namesake landmark in this arid portion of the Mojave Desert within Clark County. The landscape is defined by its dramatic geologic relief, where the West Longwell Ridge and East Longwell Ridge run parallel, channeling seasonal runoff through Calico Wash. The southern portion of the map transitions into the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, showing the northern fringes of the preserve near the Echo Hills.

Drainage patterns here are starkly visible, with Echo Wash carving through the Bitter Spring Valley toward the Colorado River basin. The absence of permanent settlements highlights the desert character of the region, where topographic features like White Basin and Bitter Ridge dictate movement through the terrain. This map documents the complex system of ridges and washes that define the northern approaches to Lake Mead in the early 21st century.