2011 Map of Finger Buttes East

About this map

Blacktail Creek winds southeastward across this landscape in Carter County, Montana, carving a system of drainage patterns through the high plains. The map reflects a corner of the American West defined by extensive open range and minimal structural development. One of the few human interventions on the natural water cycle shown here is Walker Dam, which serves as a critical water management point for local livestock or agricultural needs. The sparse network of local roads and trails indicates the vast scale of the ranching operations typical of this region of Montana, where life is largely shaped by the availability of water in an otherwise arid environment.