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1970 Map of Cattle Canyon

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Cattle Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Navajo Indian Reservation lands dominate this 1970 topographical study, where the high-altitude terrain of the Shonto Plateau meets a complex network of deep drainage systems. The landscape is defined by the massive tabular forms of Nakai Mesa and Piute Mesa, which rise sharply above the surrounding canyons. This area, located along the border of San Juan and Navajo Counties, serves as a stark record of the geological forces shaping the Four Corners region.

Water sources are scarce but vital in this arid environment, marked here by Fullers Spring and the drainage of Neskahi Wash. The map documents the intricate path of Cattle Canyon as it winds toward its confluence with Nakai Canyon. The absence of developed roads or settlements on this advance sheet emphasizes the isolation of these mesa tops at the start of the 1970s, providing a baseline for researchers studying land use and natural landmarks within the reservation.