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1954 Map of Glamis SW

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Glamis SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Lands dominate this desert landscape in the mid-1950s, revealing a shifting terrain of wind-swept ridges and depressions. The presence of the Coachella Canal in the northeast corner provides a stark contrast to the surrounding Sand Dunes, marking the edge of managed water resources in the Imperial Valley. This survey, based on field work by the US Bureau of Reclamation, captures the area before modern off-road recreation became highly formalized.

Evidence of early desert navigation and infrastructure is visible through a network of Jeep Trails and a designated Landing Field near Mesa 2. These features, along with several bench marks like BM 112 and BM 79, illustrate the challenges of surveying the East Mesa Sand Dunes, where the topography is noted as being subject to change. The map serves as a detailed record of the desert's physical state during a period of expanding water management and geological study.