2021 Map of Mexican Water

About this map

Mexican Water and Tes Nez Iah serve as the primary focal points of this arid plateau landscape, situated near the Arizona and Utah border. The area is defined by the complex drainage network of Chinle Creek and the Chinle Wash, which carve through the high-desert terrain. These waterways, along with Walker Creek and Laguna Creek, provide the fundamental structure for movement and settlement in this part of Apache County. The topography is marked by distinctive formations such as Garnet Ridge, Skinny Mesa, and the deep incisions of Short Grass Canyon and Dennehotso Canyon. A network of local infrastructure, including Indian Rte 119 and Indian Rte 5053, connects these scattered settlements across the broad Chinle Valley. The map records a specific moment in the management of these tribal lands, where the natural canyons like Wagon Canyon dictate the path of travel through the Four Corners region.