2020 Map of Borax Lake

About this map

Borax Lake and the nearby Borax Hot Springs anchor this specialized desert landscape in the Pueblo Valley. This 2020 survey documents the complex hydrological features of Harney County, where the Lower Borax Lake Reservoir and the seasonal expanse of Alvord Lake illustrate the precarious water management of the Oregon high desert. The terrain is defined by extreme shifts in elevation, from the flat reaches of Dry Lake to the prominent rising contours at Black Point. The map also traces the winding course of Trout Cr as it moves through the valley floor, alongside remote access points like Guzzler Rd. This modern USGS data provides a precise record of the alkali flats and thermal springs that have drawn geological interest to this corner of the state for decades.