2011 Map of Las Playas

About this map

Las Playas occupies the central focus of this arid landscape, where ephemeral water patterns define the geography of the borderlands. The presence of the Pinacate Lava Flow in the northwest corner signals the volcanic origins and geological complexity of this desert environment, marking a distinct transition in terrain. Drainage patterns are dominated by the Papago Wash, which meanders across the eastern portion of the quadrangle. This 2011 survey, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, captures the stark hydrography of the region during a period when modern digital mapping standards were being applied to some of the most remote stretches of the international boundary. The map serves as a precise record of seasonal water bodies and geological boundaries that have influenced travel and subsistence in this desert corridor for generations.