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1979 Map of Kitt Peak

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Kitt Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Kitt Peak National Observatory dominates the high ground within the Papago Indian Reservation, housing a significant concentration of scientific infrastructure in the late 1970s. The summit is meticulously detailed with facilities including the Steward Observatory, the McMath Solar Telescope, and the Mayall Telescope (158 Inch), alongside a Heliport and a Radio Telescope. This landscape is defined by the sharp verticality of the Quinlan Mountains and Coyote Mountains, dropping into the Alambre Valley.

Evidence of human presence outside the observatory is sparse but culturally significant, ranging from the Uhs Kug (Site) to the Hay Hook Ranch. The mapping of Numerous water sources such as Alambre Well, Pozito Well, and the Milagro Well underscores the critical importance of water management in this arid environment. Strategic mountain crossings like San Juan Pass and Pan Tak Pass provide the primary connections through the rugged high desert terrain.