1981 Map of Mojonera Canyon

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape in Catron County, dictating the flow of water across a network of seasonal tanks and livestock-supporting windmills. Mapping in the late 1960s and mid-1970s reveals a terrain defined by ranching infrastructure and remote landmarks, most notably a solitary Grave situated near Mojonera Canyon. This marker of human history stands in stark contrast to the surrounding wilderness, where named water sources like Henry Ford Tank and Rock House Tank illustrate the necessity of water management for survival in the New Mexico high country. In the southern portion of the map, the Gila National Forest boundary encompasses Railroad Canyon and Buffalo Tank, while the northern reaches feature the expanse of Laguna Hondo. This survey provides a precise record of the land use patterns and isolated improvements that characterized this portion of the American West during the late twentieth century.