1982 Map of Garton Lake

About this map

White Sands National Monument dominates this landscape, showing a vast area of shifting sand and gypsum dunes at a moment when federal land management and military operations defined the region. The map captures the boundary where the monument meets the White Sands Missile Range, illustrating how the desert floor is utilized for both conservation and defense. In the southeast, the Headquarters and Visitor Center and the winding Loop Drive provide public access to the dunes, while nearby industrial and military infrastructure like Holloman Air Force Base and the Sewage Disposal Ponds show the human footprint on this arid terrain. For those interested in the hydrology of the Tularosa Basin, the map identifies sparse but critical water features such as Hurtz Spring (Salt), the terminal flow of the Lost River, and the Garton Lake Flowing Well.