1969 Map of Little Lost River Sinks

About this map

The Little Lost River Valley reveals a stark hydraulic landscape where surface waters vanish into the eastern Idaho desert. This 1969 field-checked survey focuses on the geological terminus of two major drainage systems: the Little Lost River Sinks and the Big Lost River Sinks. The terrain is characterized by a vast Depression and the rugged southern slopes of the Lemhi Range, which rise sharply from the valley floor. Human activity is sparse and functional, centered on the National Reactor Testing Station that occupies the southern portion of the quadrangle. Aside from the atomic research boundary, the map records the former location of Berenice, along with scattered infrastructure including several Gravel Pits, a Storage Bin, and a network of wells essential for survival in this arid terminal basin.