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2021 Map of Massacre Lake

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Massacre Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

Massacre Lake dominates the basin of this high desert terrain in Washoe County, a landscape defined by seasonal water and volcanic plateaus. The lake, fed by the seasonal Massacre Cr, sits at the base of dramatic topographic rises, including the flat-topped Table Butte and the expansive Bitner Table. These geological formations represent the characteristic "table" geography of the northwestern Great Basin, where ancient lava flows have left elevated, level surfaces above the surrounding valley floor.

Smaller water sources like Fatty Martin Lake and Willow Spring suggest the importance of localized hydrology for grazing or wildlife in this arid region. Human presence is sparse, marked primarily by the path of Co Rte 8a in the southeastern corner. The map documents a strictly rural environment where the Public Land Survey System grids, such as t44n r21e and t43n r21e, organize a vast area of public or private rangeland without significant modern development.