1963 Map of Five Lakes Canyon NE

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape on the border of Sandoval and Rio Arriba counties, defining a rugged terrain of deep canyons and natural basins. The mid-1960s survey documents a region characterized by its drainage patterns and subterranean resources, marked by scattered Gas Wells and Drill Holes that signal the era's energy exploration. In the south, the San Jose Lakes and the headwaters of Five Lakes Canyon provide a stark contrast to the nearby Badland Hills. Water movement is traced through intricate systems like Arroyo Valles and Menfee Canyon, which feed into larger watercourses such as Larga Creek and Canada Larga. This map records the intersection of geological boundaries and industrial utility in a remote New Mexico wilderness.