1971 Map of Lajitas

About this map

The Rio Grande carves a sharp international boundary between Texas and Mexico on this 1971 study of the Big Bend region. The settlement of Lajitas sits near the river's edge, marked by a nearby Cem and Landing Strip. To the north, the landscape is defined by the unique geological formation of the Wax Factory Laccolith and the deep cuts of Fresno Canyon. Industrial activity is evident through the Whitney Mine and Fresno Mine, while the southern portion of the sheet transitions into the protected lands of Big Bend National Park. This desert terrain is crisscrossed by paths such as the Contrabando Trail and a Pack Trail, linking isolated sites like Madrid Ranch and unidentified Ruins near the riverbanks. The prevalence of labels like Prospect and Contrabando Waterhole suggests a history of resource extraction and a reliance on scarce water sources like Fresno Creek.