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1961 Map of Lava

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Lava
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Fra Cristobal Mountain dominates the western landscape of this 1961 survey, where the Fra Cristobal Range meets the high desert plains of the Jornada Del Muerto. This arid region in Sierra County is defined by its scarce water sources and vital transportation corridors. The Rio Grande and its Conveyance Channel feed into the Elephant Butte Reservoir at the northwestern corner, while the desert interior relies on isolated outposts like Lava Well Ranch and Navy Well.

Industrial and transit infrastructure cuts through the open terrain, most notably the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line running north to south. Traces of early 20th-century resource extraction are visible with several Mines noted in the mountains. The map also delineates the extensive Pedro Armendaris No 33 land grant, reflecting the area's history of complex land ownership and ranching boundaries.