1940 Map of Iris Pass

About this map

The Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range dominates this landscape, establishing a significant military presence across the desert terrain of the Chocolate Mountains. Published for civil use during the mid-1950s but based on 1940 aerial photography, the map illustrates a pivotal era for water management in the California desert. The Coachella Canal and East Highline Canal represent major infrastructure projects intended to transform arid stretches into arable land. Historic routes like the Ehrenberg Road and Approximate Augustine Road cut through the passes of the Chuckwalla Mts, tracing paths used by early travelers. Natural water sources like Salvation Spring appear near Salvation Pass, serving as critical landmarks in an otherwise unforgiving environment marked by peaks such as Lion Head Mtn and the drainage of Arroyo Seco.