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2023 Map of Initial Point

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Initial Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Initial Point stands as the central landmark of this Ada County landscape, marking the historic origin for all land surveys in Idaho. The terrain transitions from the high volcanic plateau down steep canyon walls toward the Snake River, which forms a prominent natural boundary in the southern portion of the sheet. This river corridor is home to Halverson Lake and the wide Con Shea Basin, illustrating the stark contrast between the arid desert highlands and the lush riparian zone at the canyon floor.

Agricultural development is evident through the path of the Waldvogel Canal and a network of arterial roads such as Swan Falls Rd and Black Cat Rd. These thoroughfares, along with Warren Spur Rd, trace the expansion of rural settlement and irrigation infrastructure across the high desert. The map captures the intersection of foundational surveying history and modern rural utility at the border of Owyhee County.