1971 Map of Mesa De Anguila

About this map

Big Bend National Park serves as the backdrop for this topographic study, where the international boundary between the United States and Mexico is defined by the shifting channel of the Rio Grande. The landscape is dominated by the massive uplift of Mesa De Anguila and Bend Mesa, cut sharply by the dramatic walls of Santa Elena Canyon. In this arid environment, life and movement are dictated by scarce water sources and primitive paths, including a designated Pack Trail that traverses the high ground. Notable water features such as Tinaja Lujan and Tinaja Blanca mark critical natural tanks in the desert rock, while the peaks of Sierra Aguja stand as prominent landmarks for those navigating the borderlands. This map captures the region shortly after the Boundary Treaty of 1970, reflecting a precise delineation of the frontier before modern infrastructure reached these canyons.