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1989 Map of Mexican Hat

Name: 1989 Topographic Map of Mexican Hat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

Mexican Hat and its surrounding desert landscape are defined by the winding course of the San Juan River, which carves through the San Juan Canyon and creates a natural boundary for the northern reaches of the Navajo Indian Reservation. This late-1980s data illustrates a region of dramatic geologic relief, where the Valley of the Gods and the distinctive Mexican Hat Rock serve as landmarks for travelers and locals alike.

Evidence of infrastructure and land use appears in the form of a Landing Strip, Radio Facility, and a Gaging Station along the riverbanks, while the presence of Tailings near the southern edge hints at the mineral extraction history of the San Juan basin. The map details hazardous river navigation points like Eight Foot Rapids and Gypsum Creek Rapids, alongside isolated vertical features such as Scotchman Butte and Flag Butte.