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1948 Map of Broken Back Crater, 1954 Print
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1948 Map of Broken Back Crater

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

White Sands Proving Ground and the Alamogordo Bombing Range dominate the southern landscape of this 1948 survey, reflecting the mid-century expansion of military testing grounds in the high desert. The terrain transitions from the volcanic geology of the Malpais and the namesake Broken Back Crater in the east to the high slopes of Chupadera Mesa. Sparse ranching operations such as Ratcliff Ranch, Gallagher Ranch, and Harvey Ranch Headquarters define the human footprint, relying on a complex network of man-made water sources like School Section Well and Lobo Tank. The map captures a moment when traditional land use in the Cibola National Forest began to intersect with the strategic needs of the Ordnance California Institute of Technology at the dawn of the Cold War.

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Map Details

Date Portrayed1948
Date Published1954
PublisherU.S. Geological Survey
Map TypeTopographic
Scale1:62500
Physical Dimensions17 x 20.8 inches

Editions of this 1948 Broken Back Crater Map

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Source Details

SourceU.S. Geological Survey
CopyrightPublic Domain