1965 Map of Mohawk SE

About this map

Luke Air Force Range dominates the terrain of this mid-1960s survey, illustrating the significant military footprint in the Arizona desert. The map captures the broad expanse of the Mohawk Valley, where the landscape is defined by vast, open basins and shifting Sand Dunes in the northeastern corner. This period of mapping reflects a time when the region was primarily utilized for military aviation training and aerial gunnery, with very little civilian infrastructure. Sparse corridors of unimproved dirt roads are the only signs of transit through this arid landscape, highlighting the isolation of the range during the Cold War era. The topography, documented through photogrammetric methods from 1962 aerial photography and earlier surveys by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, provides a precise record of the desert floor's elevation and natural drainage patterns.