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1957 Map of Chromo

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Chromo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Chromo and the high-country borderlands of southern Colorado take center stage in this mid-century topographic record. Located within the San Juan National Forest, the landscape is defined by the convergence of the Navajo River and the Little Navajo River near the small settlement of Edith. The terrain rises sharply toward the Chalk Mountains and Archuleta Mesa, with cattle and sheep ranching evidenced by numerous pack trails and isolated landmarks like Squaretop Guard Station and the Artesian Well on the Navajo River.

A network of water features including Buckles Lake, Harris Lake, and Spider Lake punctuates the higher elevations, while naming conventions such as Sawmill Creek and Winter Canyon suggest the local industries of timber and seasonal grazing. The map also delineates the state boundary between Colorado and New Mexico, providing clear geographic context for the complex mesas and flats, such as Kenney Flats and La Mesa del Medio, that bridge these two territories.