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2020 Map of Costilla

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Costilla
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Costilla sits at the northern edge of the Sangre de Cristo foothills where the high desert plains meet the Taos Mountains. This borderland landscape is defined by its sophisticated water management systems, including the Acequia-Madre, Cordillera Ditch, and Mesa Ditch, which redirect water from Costilla Creek to support agriculture across the arid flats. The map illustrates a complex network of man-made waterways like the Cerro Canal and the New Mexico Branch Cerro Canal, essential for life in this high-altitude environment.

To the east, the terrain rises sharply into the rugged slopes of the Taos Mountains, cut by prominent landforms such as Cedro Canyon and Jaroso Canyon. Local travel is marked by routes like Upper Plaza Road and the Urraca Wildlife Area Road, which provides access to the higher elevations. The intersection of the Colorado New Mexico state line with the Costilla Co Taos Co county boundary underscores the area's significance as a geographic and administrative crossroads.