1978 Map of Furnish Canyon West

About this map

Black Mesa dominates this corner of the High Plains, where the border between Colorado and New Mexico cuts through an intricate network of drainages. The landscape is defined by the erosion of the mesa, which gives way to the winding paths of Furnish Canyon and Sheep Pen Canyon as they move toward the larger system of West Carrizo Creek. This 1978 edition shows a sparsely populated region of Las Animas County where water was the primary concern for any inhabitant. Scattered Springs and a few designated Well sites are the only indicators of human attempts to secure a foothold in this arid terrain. The map records a time before extensive modern development, preserving the isolation of the Tecolote Creek area and the natural topography of the state line.