Loading map...

1955 Map of La Paz Mtn

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of La Paz Mtn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The Colorado River Indian Reservation dominates this desert landscape, where the shifting waters of the Colorado River define the boundary between Arizona and California. Along the western edge, the Palo Verde Valley is crisscrossed by irrigation features like the Drain and Levee, supporting a Fish Hatchery near the riverbanks. The contrast between the fertile floodplain and the arid interior is sharp, with the braided channels of Parker Slough and Goodman Slough winding through the lowlands.

In the rugged eastern half, the Dome Rock Mountains rise sharply, punctuated by La Paz Mountain. This area is a network of dry washes and mining activity, featuring the Goodman Mine and various shafts and ruins tucked into canyons like Sunshine Gulch. Remnants of desert habitation and transit are visible at La Paz Well and Martinez Well, markers of a time when reliable water sources were critical for prospectors and travelers through the western Sonoran Desert.