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2011 Map of Black Rock Butte

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Black Rock Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Black Rock Butte and the surrounding high desert terrain dominate this 2011 survey of the Chinle Agency region. The landscape is defined by a complex network of geological formations, including the expansive Middle Mesa and its smaller counterpart, Little Middle Mesa. These flat-topped features are dissected by numerous drainage systems such as Tseh-Ya-Kin Canyon and Sheep Point Canyon, illustrating the erosional patterns of the Colorado Plateau.

Named water sources are sparse but significant in this arid environment, with Bear Spring and Black Rock Spring marking critical points on the map. The inclusion of traditional Navajo nomenclature, such as Ata Deeza and Ndishchii Naati, reflects the deep cultural ties to this specific portion of the Navajo Nation. The map also traces the modern road network as it threads between landmarks like Sheep Point and White Butte, showing how modern transit adapts to the ancient mesa-and-canyon topography.