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1985 Map of Magdalena Peak

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Magdalena Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Magdalena Peak and the high ridges of the Sierra De Las Uvas define this high-desert landscape in Doña Ana County. This provisional survey captures the essential arid-land water management system of the mid-1980s, where named tanks such as Tejanio Pinto Tank, Kerr Tank, and Little Mills Tank dot the drainage basins. These man-made features are vital landmarks in a terrain characterized by deep erosion patterns, including the wide path of Mason Draw and the shadowed recesses of Silva Canyon.

The prominence of The Saddle Mountain and the broad plateau of Mesa Azul illustrate the complex topography that governed movement through this region. From the steep slopes near Flat Top to the low-lying Candler Draw, the map provides a precise record of the natural contours and livestock-related infrastructure. It is a valuable document for understanding how water resources were identified and named by those working the land in southwestern New Mexico.