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1963 Map of Durango

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Durango
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The San Juan Mountains dominate this 1950s era survey, where the Continental Divide weaves through high peaks and national forests. High-altitude mining history is etched across the landscape at the Summitville Mine and Asiatic Mine, while the Denver & Rio Grande Western RR provides a critical transportation backbone connecting mountain settlements like Silverton and Telluride to the valley floor. To the south, the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation cover significant territory near the border of Colorado and New Mexico.

In the east, the San Luis Valley opens into a broad agricultural plain, contrasting with the dramatic verticality of Mount Wilson and Lizard Head. The network of irrigation and water management is evident through numerous reservoirs such as Vallecito Reservoir and Platoro Reservoir. This period reflects the region's complex mix of resource extraction, indigenous lands, and the burgeoning protection of landmarks like Wheeler National Monument and Chimney Rock National Monument.