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1963 Map of Hard Ground Flats

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Hard Ground Flats
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The Navajo Indian Reservation landscape is defined by its intricate drainage systems and high desert mesas in this mid-century survey. The terrain is deeply incised by complex watercourses including Coyote Canyon, Sitting Water Canyon, and Peach Spring Canyon, which converge toward the Puerco River in the south. Evidence of ancient habitation is preserved at a site marked simply as Ruins located near the head of Deadman Canyon, offering a specific point of interest for archaeological and local history researchers.

Water sources are vital markers in this arid environment, with labels indicating the locations of Red Water Pond and Well Spring. The topography transitions from the elevated Grey Ridge and Ram Mesa down to the eponymous Hard Ground Flats. This mapping effort, which includes revisions from the late 1970s, captures the intersection of natural landmarks like Mexican Cooking Canyon with modern additions such as a prominent Pipeline cutting across the southeastern corner.