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1955 Map of Burns

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Burns
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Malheur Lake and Harney Lake dominate the high desert basin at the heart of this Harney County landscape, forming a critical hydrological focus for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The twin settlements of Burns and Hines serve as the primary hub of activity, where the local timber economy is represented by a large lumber mill and the transportation network of the Union Pacific Railroad.

The map reveals a landscape defined by volcanic geology and remote outposts, from the cinder cones of Diamond Craters to isolated mountain ranges like the Steens Mountains and Wagontire Mountain. Evidence of early agricultural research and infrastructure is seen at the State experimental station and several outlying reservoirs, including Warm Springs Reservoir and Moon Reservoir. This survey captures the region during a period of established ranching and federal land management, with the boundaries of the Malheur National Forest and Ochoco National Forest clearly delineated.