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1979 Map of La Tortuga Butte

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

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Roskruge Mountains dominate this high-desert landscape within the Papago Indian Reservation, where water management defines the human footprint. The map documents a network of survival in an arid environment, including Indio Tank, West Tank, and White Tank, alongside specific groundwater sources like La Tortuga Well. Settlement and activity are concentrated near these water points and ephemeral drainages like Pescadero Wash and Aguirre Wash.

Evidence of historical transit and local industry appears via a Pack Trail and several Prospect sites. Notable landmarks for local history include the Graves site south of La Tortuga Butte and the remote Viopuli region. The presence of a Landing Strip near the Indian Reservation Boundary suggests the importance of aerial access in this isolated territory, while Aguirre Pass provides a key natural corridor through the mountains.