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1967 Map of Cerro Brillante

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Cerro Brillante
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape in western New Mexico, marking a stark volcanic and topographic boundary. To the east, the terrain is dominated by the jagged basalt of The Malpais, where expansive Lava flows define the surface. The map captures a series of prominent volcanic peaks or cerros, including Cerro Piedrita, Cerro Lobo, and Cerro Colorado, which rise above the surrounding flats.

Evidence of local water management and land use appears at Laguna Brillante and the nearby Brillante Windmill, essential infrastructure in this arid environment. The western portion of the quadrangle encompasses part of the Ramah Indian Res Bdy, illustrating the intersection of tribal lands with the natural divide. From the broad expanse of Chato Flat to the southern peak of Cerro Brillante, the survey details a remote area shaped by geological forces and sparse human activity during the late 1960s.