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2023 Map of Melena

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Melena
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Pecos River corridor defines this landscape in Chaves County, where the transition from arid flats to riparian wetlands creates a distinct ecological boundary. The Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Salt Creek Wilderness dominate the eastern half of the map, protecting a series of unique aquatic features such as the Ink Pots and the serpentine course of Salt Creek. These water sources represent a critical intersection of desert and marshland in a region defined by its hydrology.

Evidence of local ranching and settlement geography is seen near the small locality of Melena, which sits along a primary roadway. Further west, the terrain rises toward Ballard Hill and levels out into Garcia Flat, while the lower elevations are marked by seasonal or permanent water bodies like Skull Lake, Lowe Lake, and the winding Lost River. The network of county roads, including Capitan Rd and Co Rd 51, provides a contemporary look at the rural access routes connecting these remote New Mexico landmarks.