1988 Map of Buzzards Peak

About this map

Buzzards Peak dominates this arid landscape in eastern Imperial County, where 1980s surveyors documented a terrain defined by desert drainage and resource extraction. The area is characterized by a network of ephemeral watercourses, most notably Vinagre Wash and the broad area of Gold Basin. Evidence of small-scale mining and prospecting is scattered throughout the township, with numerous Prospects and individual Mines dotting the ridges and desert floor. The small outpost of Midway Well sits along the western edge, serving as a critical waypoint near the Trans Line. To the east, Arrowweed Springs provides a rare water reference point in an otherwise parched environment. This survey captures a moment in the late 20th century before significant modern alterations, showing the traditional relationship between water sources and travel routes in the California desert.