2012 Map of Louisiana Butte

About this map

Darwin Wash and Junction Wash dominate this arid landscape in eastern California, where water remains the most precious and localized resource. The presence of Tennessee Spring and Carricut Lake highlights the precarious nature of life in these basins, where traditional ranching outposts like Junction Ranch and Howard Ranch took root. The geography is defined by broad depressions such as Etcharren Valley and the sharp rising heights of Louisiana Butte and the walls of Sheep Canyon. This USGS survey illustrates the modern road network and land use patterns of Inyo County at the start of the 21st century, showing how infrastructure follows the natural drainage lines of the high desert terrain.