2014 Map of Miranda Flat SW

About this map

Alvord Desert dominates this section of Harney County, its vast, flat expanse of cracked earth defining the eastern high desert landscape. The terrain is marked by a stark contrast between the arid playa and the life-giving waters of Big Alvord Cr., which flows from the west toward the basin floor. This 2014 survey documents a largely roadless area, with only E Steens Rd skirting the northwestern corner of the quadrangle. The lack of settlements or commercial development emphasizes the isolation of this region, where the primary features are the natural drainage patterns and the township and range boundaries that grid this corner of Oregon. For those interested in the environmental history of the Great Basin, this map illustrates the precise interface where mountain runoff meets the desert floor.