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1981 Map of Mangas

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Mangas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Mangas Creek carves a central path through this high-altitude landscape in Catron County, where ranching and water management define the settlement pattern. At the heart of the area lies the Mangas Ranch and the community center of Mangas Springs, which is served by the Mangas Cem. The map reveals a reliance on groundwater for agricultural and livestock purposes, evidenced by a series of named water sources including Chief Well, Mitchell Well, and Erman Well scattered across the terrain.

To the west, the boundaries of the Apache National Forest encompass steep elevations and rugged landforms like Cañon del Macho. The eastern and southern portions are marked by seasonal drainage systems such as Muncie Draw and Descaiso Canyon. These features, alongside isolated sites like San Jose Spring, highlight the sparse but deliberate distribution of human activity in the New Mexico high country during the early 1980s.