1966 Map of Great Bend

About this map

Navajo Indian Reservation lands dominate this mid-century survey of the high desert in San Juan County. The terrain is defined by the sweeping course of the Chaco River, which makes a significant turn at the namesake Great Bend. The landscape is a network of seasonal drainages including Sheep Springs Wash, Coyote Wash, and Salt Springs Wash, carving through the arid plateau. Human activity is sparsely marked by industrial and survival features, notably the Mines located near the base of Day Mesa. These scattered elements, including various wells and a remote drill hole, reflect a period of exploratory resource extraction and ranching in a region where water and mineral access were the primary drivers of movement and settlement.