1950 Map of Juanita Arch

About this map

The Dolores River carves a deep path through this Mesa County canyonland, a landscape defined by towering plateau formations and isolated drainage systems. Collaboratively published with the United States Atomic Energy Commission, this survey highlights the region's mid-century uranium and vanadium prospecting era, specifically noting the Depression Mines on Flat Top Mesa and the Copper Rivet Mine in the southern reaches. The intricate topography reveals the complex drainage of Salt Creek as it winds toward the Sinbad Valley, while prominent features like Juanita Arch and the expansive Sewemup Mesa dominate the central terrain. These landforms reflect the geographic isolation that once made the area a refuge for livestock rustlers, with natural barriers like Tenderfoot Mesa and Calamity Mesa providing clear visual boundaries for local ranching and mining claims.