1966 Map of Calcutta Lake

About this map

Sheldon National Antelope Refuge dominates the eastern high ground of this high-desert landscape in Washoe County, where the topography drops sharply into the Long Valley (Depression). This north-south corridor contains a string of ephemeral basins including Calcutta Lake, Cow Lake, and Middle Lake. Human activity in the mid-1960s is represented by isolated outposts like Calcutta Ranch and Wimer Place, along with the Refuge Headquarters near the eastern margin. A notable Lookout Tower stands atop the ridges north of Bald Mountain, overlooking a network of springs and seeps such as Antelope Spring and MC Springs that sustain life in this arid basin-and-range environment. The map details a landscape managed for wildlife and light ranching, punctuated by the essential water sources that dictate movement through the valley.