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2013 Map of Fifteenmile Lake

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Fifteenmile Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

White Sands and the broader Tularosa Valley define this landscape within the high desert of south-central New Mexico. This 2013 survey illustrates a region where water is a scarce and transient presence, marked by ephemeral features like Big Salt Lake and the namesake Fifteenmile Lake. The terrain is characterized by the distinct dunefields of The Sands, showing the complex geological formations that have shaped this arid environment.

Administrative and military boundaries intersect here, including the tri-county junction of Sierra, Otero, and Doña Ana counties. The inclusion of WSMR P Route 17 highlights the restricted nature of this area, while the drainage of Three Rivers in the northern portion provides a rare reference point for hydrological flow across the basin. This map serves as a detailed record of the shifting sands and specialized infrastructure within one of the state's most unique geographic corridors.