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1955 Map of Chinle 4 SE

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Chinle 4 SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Navajo Indian Reservation landscape is defined by the complex drainage systems of the Defiance Plateau during the mid-1950s. This survey, compiled from 1953 aerial photography, reveals a high-desert environment where water management was critical for local inhabitants. Scattered Dams, Tanks, and a Windmill highlight the infrastructure required to support life and livestock near the seasonal courses of Nazlini Wash and White Wash.

Evidence of much earlier habitation is preserved at the Little White House Ruins, located near the northern edge of Three Canyon. The map details the indigenous naming of the land, with features like Tiis Ndiitsooi and Tse Deeshzhaat alongside modern landmarks such as Mud Springs. This document serves as a record of the plateaus and canyons before significant modern road development altered the accessibility of these traditional lands.