1963 Map of Five Lakes Canyon NE

About this map

The Continental Divide weaves across this high-altitude landscape within the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation, separating the drainages of the San Juan Basin. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation changes between the Badland Hills and deep-cut watercourses such as Five Lakes Canyon and Medio Canyon. In the early 1960s, this area of the Rio Arriba and Sandoval county line was increasingly characterized by industrial development alongside its natural features, evidenced by numerous Gas Well sites scattered across the northern ridges. Significant water features like the San Jose Lakes and Arroyo Valles provide vital points of interest in this arid environment, while the presence of Canada Larga and Largo Creek highlights the complex local hydrology that has shaped the region's historical ranching and tribal land use.