1982 Map of Center Peak

About this map

The Animas Mountains dominate this high-altitude landscape in the bootheel region of New Mexico, where the Continental Divide winds through some of the state's most isolated terrain. The map centers on Center Peak, a prominent landmark within a geography defined by steep canyons and named summits like Elephant Butte and K Peak. Water management for ranching is the primary indicator of human activity in this arid environment, evidenced by a network of specialized reservoirs such as Rock Guard Tank, Tahoe Tank, and Lower Walnut Tank. These features, alongside drainages like Gillespie Creek and Cowboy Creek, reveal a landscape shaped by the necessity of water storage. Below Cowboy Rim, the land transitions into a series of washes and forks, including the Middle Fork and East Fork of Brushy Creek, illustrating the complex drainage patterns of the southwestern divide.