2014 Map of Congress SW

About this map

Merritt Pass serves as a key topographic waypoint in this arid landscape, where transportation routes and water management define the human imprint on the desert. Major regional thoroughfares Us-93 and Az-71 intersect in the northern portion of the quadrangle, while Moore Ranch RD provides access to more remote ranching country. The hydrological network is characterized by ephemeral drainages like Sols Wash and Martin Cr, which are supported by numerous man-made watering points essential for desert survival and livestock. These features, often named after families or local landmarks such as Gibson Tank, Knight Tank, and Mexican Joe Tank, reveal the history of land use and cattle ranching across the township boundaries. The contrast between the elevated terrain of the pass and the lower wash basins underscores the significance of these scattered water resources in the Arizona desert.