2021 Map of Cactus

About this map

The shifting sands of the Algodones Dunes dominate this desert landscape in the southeast corner of California. Situated on the edge of the Imperial Valley, the area transitions from the arid heights of Pilot Knob-Mesa and East Mesa toward the irrigated lowlands. The arrival of water is the defining human modification here, evidenced by the Coachella Canal cutting across the southwestern corner of the sheet. The small settlement of Cactus sits in the northeast, positioned along a transportation corridor that includes Ted Kipf Rd. The natural drainage of the land is visible through seasonal features like Indian Wash and Rumio Wash, which underscore the stark hydrology of this portion of Imperial County.