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1964 Map of Humorist

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Humorist
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Lake Wallula dominates the landscape at the meeting of the Snake River and the Columbia River, reflecting a mid-century period of massive hydroelectric and navigational transformation. The reservoir created by the McNary Dam stretches across the quadrangle, drowning former riverbanks and creating the intricate network of the Mc Nary National Wildlife Refuge. Within this riparian environment, numerous islands and ponds like Peavine Island, Tanglefoot Island, and Curlew Pond emerge from the backwaters, while Ice Harbor Dam regulates the eastern flow of the Snake into Lake Sacajawea.

Industrial and transport corridors define the drier ground, with the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific railroads converging near Villard Junction. Evidence of the region's agricultural infrastructure is visible in the High Lift Canal and the presence of several Pumping Stations. Small settlements like Burbank Heights, Two Rivers, and the curiously named Humorist sit amidst a terrain marked by shifting Sand Dunes and gravel extractions, illustrating the precarious balance between development and the desert environment.