1973 Map of Gold Hill 1 NE

About this map

Wendover Air Force Range dominates the eastern Great Salt Lake Desert on this 1973 orthophotomap, showing a landscape defined by military utility and geological extremes. The territory is characterized by expansive Mud Flat terrain, where the fine-grained alkaline soils create a stark, level surface that historically served as a critical testing ground for the United States military. The orthophotomap format, which layers topographic contour lines over aerial photography, reveals the subtle variations in the desert floor and the isolation of the range. Located in western Tooele County, the area illustrates the mid-century reliance on the remote basins of Utah for expansive military operations where the flat geography and lack of permanent settlement were primary strategic assets.