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2017 Map of Laguna Ortiz

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Laguna Ortiz
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Laguna Ortiz sits at the center of this high-altitude landscape in San Miguel County, where ranching infrastructure and natural drainage patterns define the territory. The map details a complex system of water management essential for high-desert land use, featuring named catchments like Madrid Tank, Palmer Tank, and Hidden Tank. These features, combined with the presence of the Tierra de Dios Airport in the southwest, suggest a modern era of land management where aerial access and water security are paramount.

The eastern portion is dominated by the steep topography of the Santa Fe National Forest, where the terrain breaks into deep cuts such as Manzanares Canyon and Arroyo de Chamizal. Notable landmarks like Hurtado Mesa and the sweeping Valle Chimal provide clear evidence of the region's traditional grazing areas and geographic orientation points. Local travel is marked by unpaved routes like Tierra De Dios Rd and Co Rd B32C, illustrating the character of this sparsely populated New Mexican interior.