1982 Map of Heart of the Sands SW

About this map

White Sands National Monument dominates this orthophotomap, showing the stark, shifting environment of the Tularosa Basin during the early 1980s. The aerial imagery captures the distinct textures of the Alkali Flat and the large Depression where seasonal runoff accumulates. To the south, the irregular shoreline of Lake Lucero marks a significant hydrological feature in this arid landscape. This survey documents the intersection of public lands and defense infrastructure, with a large portion of the territory designated as the White Sands Missile Range. Land use on the western margin is evidenced by the Andre Site Radio Tower and a Gravel Pit, while the seasonal flow of Andrecito Creek cuts across the desert floor toward the basin's center. The transition between Doña Ana and Otero counties is clearly delineated across the northern and eastern reaches of the gypsum dunes.