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1961 Map of Casa Salazar

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Casa Salazar
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The settlement of Casa Salazar sits in the northwest corner of this high-desert landscape, positioned along the edge of the Rio Puerco. The terrain is dominated by the massive Mesa Prieta, which occupies the central and eastern portions of the quadrangle, flanked by dramatic eroded features like Rincon Entrañoso and Rincon De Cochino. This 1961 field-checked survey reveals a remote ranching environment where water is the primary organizing force, indicated by numerous man-made landmarks such as the Miguel Urrea Tank and Sam Hill Tank.

Complex drainage systems like Cañada de las Lagunitas and the Arroyo Cuervo carve through the mesa edges, creating the varied elevations of Mesa Cortada and Cerrito Cochino. Rare water features like Natural Lake provide a sharp contrast to the surrounding arid flats and peak summits like Squaw Peak. The map documents a sparsely populated region of New Mexico where land use is dictated by the rugged geology and the seasonal flow of the river.