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1973 Map of Christmas Canyon

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Christmas Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The China Lake Naval Weapons Center occupies the southern extent of this 1973 survey, marking a landscape defined by restricted military use and arid desert terrain. The area is characterized by significant topographic shifts, most notably the Searles Valley (Depression) which dominates the northwestern quadrant. Drainage patterns like The Pinnacles Wash and Randsburg Wash cut through the alluvial fans, leading toward the central canyon system.

Evidence of desert industry and communication is found in the scattered Prospects and Gravel Pits located west of the Christmas Canyon. The Randsburg Wash Headquarters serves as a primary hub for activity within the naval weapons range, connected to the outside world via the Randsburg Road. This map illustrates the intersection of mid-century military infrastructure and the raw geography of the High Desert.