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1964 Map of Kane

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Kane
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Bighorn Lake dominates this 1964 survey, capturing a pivotal moment in the landscape of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area during its development within the Missouri River Basin project. The map depicts the reservoir at a normal pool elevation of 3640 feet, showing the transformative effect of water on the arid landscape. The settlement of Kane is situated along the western shore, adjacent to the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad line which hugs the canyon floor.

Rising sharply from the river valley, Little Sheep Mountain and the distinctively named Katys Nipple provide topographic landmarks amidst a network of drainage features like Little Sand Draw and Cottonwood Creek. The presence of the Lovell Canal and Sunlight Canal alongside several prospects and a claypit reflect the area's mixed reliance on irrigation and mineral extraction. This record preserves the confluence of the Shoshone River and Bighorn River as they were managed and reshaped by mid-century engineering.