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1958 Map of Mortmar

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Mortmar
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Salton Sea shoreline dominates this 1958 survey, showing the relationship between the rising inland sea and the critical infrastructure of the Coachella Valley. The Southern Pacific railroad and the Coachella Canal run parallel to the coast, serving as lifelines through the arid landscape near Mortmar. This map captures the mid-century development of leisure and utility in the desert, from the Salton Sea State Park and Desert Beach to the industrial presence of a Gravel Pit.

Elevations rise sharply into the Mecca Hills and Orocopia Mountains, where the terrain is deeply incised by Painted Canyon and Box Canyon. These highlands contain natural landmarks such as The Grotto and Sheep Hole Oasis, providing a stark contrast to the low-lying agricultural and residential areas. The Torres Martinez Indian Reservation occupies the western portion of the sheet, while the remote Shavers Well marks an established waypoint in the northern canyons.