1961 Map of Mesa Cortada

About this map

The Cibola National Forest and the high plateaus of Ignacio Chavez define this New Mexico landscape during a period of ongoing land management and natural resource evaluation. This map captures a transition in the high desert where the rugged rim of Mesa Cortada overlooks a network of ephemeral drainage systems including Arroyo Chico and Arroyo Rincon Grande. Evidence of rural habitation and livestock heritage is present at the Rancho de la Punta (Site), Muddy Ranch, and Jaramillo Ranch, while the inclusion of an Oil Well near Mesa San Miguel points toward the industrial interests of the mid-twentieth century. Distinctive geological landmarks like Battleship, Cerro Chavez, and Cerro Colorado serve as permanent navigational anchors for researchers tracing old fence lines and cattle tanks such as Gonzolas Tank across the high-altitude terrain.