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1951 Map of Carson Sink

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Carson Sink
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Humboldt Lake and its vast dry bed dominate this high-desert basin, where the Humboldt River terminates in the expansive Carson Sink. This 1951 survey documents a landscape defined by its historical transit routes, most notably the Old California Trail and its western variant, which trace the edges of the Alkali Flat. These pioneering tracks are paralleled by the modern steel of the Southern Pacific railroad, serving isolated stops like Miriam and Ocala.

Evidence of much earlier inhabitants is marked at the Lovelock Indian Caves and Ocala Indian Cave along the flanks of the West Humboldt Range. Industrial footprints are sparse but significant, including the St Anthony Mine and a Gravel Pit near the rail line. To the south, the Stillwater Wildlife Management Area begins to take shape, protecting the critical wetlands and sloughs that persist in this arid depression.