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2020 Map of Mesa Gigante

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Mesa Gigante
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Mesa Gigante dominates this high-desert landscape in New Mexico, marking a transition point where the Bernalillo Co Cibola Co line crosses the arid terrain. The drainage patterns of the Eastern Navajo Agency are well-defined here, with Arroyo Gigante and Bell Rock Arroyo cutting through the mesas. These seasonal waterways, including Arroyo Salado and Arroyo del Miranda, illustrate the complex erosion that defines this region's geography.

Prominent landmarks such as Bell Rock and Chimney Rock rise above the surrounding canyons, providing essential orientation points in an area with sparse modern infrastructure. While human activity is marked primarily by ranch roads like Mesa RD and RD 7036, the presence of Alamos Spring and the sheltered Sandoval Canyon suggest the long-standing importance of water and topography in this corner of the state. The map details a network of canyons including Cañada los Alamos and Cañada los Apaches that carve through the plateau.