1982 Map of Lost River

About this map

Holloman Air Force Base dominates the eastern desert of Otero County in this early 1980s orthophotomap, which utilizes aerial imagery to show the stark contrast between human infrastructure and the desert floor. The most prominent feature is the High Speed Test Track, a linear engineering marvel running north-south through the base. To the west, the landscape shifts into the White Sands Missile Range, characterized by expansive areas of shifting sand. Small markers of human occupation and scientific monitoring appear throughout the arid environment, including the Danley Well, the Pritch Site, and several Observation Towers. Hydrological patterns are defined by the Lost River and drainages like Hay Draw and Sheep Camp Draw, which cut through the basin. This map captures the intersection of mid-century military aerospace testing and the active desert geology of New Mexico.