1956 Map of Durmid SE

About this map

The vast expanse of the Salton Sea dominates this mid-century survey of the Imperial Valley, reaching a recorded elevation 235 feet below sea level at the time of mapping. This shoreline reveals a landscape defined by military and state interests, featuring the extensive Salton Sea Test Base and a large Naval Reservation covering much of the water's surface. Along the northeastern edge, the Southern Pacific railroad corridor and Route 111 provide the primary transit links through this arid environment, passing through the small settlement of Bertram. The presence of a Flight Course Pylon near the water suggests the area's specialized aeronautical use during the Cold War. Most of the eastern shoreline is designated as State Park, highlighting the early efforts to manage this unique basin before its later ecological shifts.