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1948 Map of Broken Back Crater

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Broken Back Crater
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Chupadera Mesa dominates this 1948 landscape, a high tableland marked by a complex network of canyons such as Lutz Canyon, Lobo Canyon, and the appropriately named Hidden Waterhole Canyon. The region reflects a stark transition from the grazing lands of the north to the strictly controlled military zones of the south. Scattered throughout the territory are numerous livestock watering points like School Section Tank and Mesa Wells, alongside isolated outposts such as Harvey Ranch Headquarters and the Gallagher Ranch.

A significant portion of the map is dedicated to the Alamogordo Bombing Range and the White Sands Proving Ground, where the Bombing Range Boundary cuts across the lower terrain. To the east, the Malpais Lava Bed provides a distinct geological border near Broken Back Crater, illustrating the volcanic history that shaped this corner of Socorro and Lincoln counties. The northern reaches include a portion of the Cibola National Forest, showing the diverse land management uses of this arid New Mexico plateau.