1971 Map of Granite Reef Dam

About this map

Granite Reef Dam serves as the focal point for this orthophoto study of the Maricopa County desert, capturing the critical junction of two major Arizona waterways in the early 1970s. The aerial imagery illustrates the confluence where the Verde River meets the Salt River, a vital node for the region's irrigation and water management systems. The arid landscape is dominated by the prominent rise of Mount Mc Dowell, which stands in sharp contrast to the braided river channels and alluvial fans below. Because this is an orthophotomosaic, the imagery reveals the fine-grained texture of the desert scrub and the precise engineering of the diversion structures at the dam, providing a level of surface detail that traditional line-and-tint maps often omit.