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1965 Map of La Junta SW

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of La Junta SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad cuts a straight diagonal across this high plains landscape, following the path of the old Santa Fe Trail. Just north of the tracks, a Historical Monument marks this important transit corridor through Otero County. The terrain is defined by a series of drainage systems, including Timpas Creek, Crooked Arroyo, and Benton Arroyo, which flow toward the Arkansas River valley to the northeast.

Water management is evident in the presence of the Browning and Reese Reservoir No 1 and Crooked Arroyo Reservoir No 1, which supported local ranching and agricultural efforts in this arid environment. To the south, the land rises into the Shale Hills, where the West Branch and East Branch headwaters begin their descent. A lone Drill Hole in the central portion of the map suggests subsurface exploration during the mid-century period, while a network of pipelines underscores the area's role in regional infrastructure.