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1985 Map of Excelsior Mts

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Excelsior Mts
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Excelsior Mountains and the arid expanse of the Great Basin define this mid-1980s terrain along the Nevada and California border. The map reveals a landscape heavily shaped by mineral extraction and military presence, anchored by the sprawling Hawthorne Ammunition Depot in the north and the deep-rooted mining history at the Borealis Mine and Silver Dyke Mine. Transport corridors follow the paths of the Southern Pacific railroad and historic routes like the Bodie-Aurora Road, which connected once-booming mining camps across the state line.

Water is a rare but critical feature in this high desert, appearing in the alkaline depths of Mono Lake and the seasonally dry Rhodes Salt Marsh and Teels Marsh. Small settlements like Mina and Sodaville cling to the rail line, while geographic landmarks such as Black Dyke Mountain and Bald Peak rise from the surrounding flats. The area is largely managed by the Toiyabe National Forest and Inyo National Forest, preserving the remote character of the Wassuk Range and Candelaria Hills.