1961 Map of Cane Spring

About this map

Nevada Test Site Area 5 dominates this Cold War era landscape, mapped in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission during the height of desert nuclear testing. The terrain is defined by dry drainage systems including Neilson Wash, Mara Wash, and Cane Spring Wash that feed into the broad expanse of Frenchman Flat. At the center of the topographic detail sits Mt Salyer, surrounded by a network of Jeep Trails that navigate the slopes of Skull Mtn and Hampel Hill. The presence of Cane Spring and Well G indicates critical water sources in an otherwise arid environment. Along the eastern edge, the Mercury Highway provides the primary artery through this restricted zone, passing by a Gravel Pit and through the lower reaches of Indian Springs Wash. This 1961 field-checked survey documents a highly specialized landscape where military testing infrastructure meets classic Great Basin topography.