2013 Map of Navajo Dam

About this map

Navajo Reservoir dominates the high desert landscape of Northern New Mexico, where the massive Navajo Dam contains the San Juan River along the border of San Juan and Rio Arriba counties. This early 21st-century survey documents the complex shoreline and the transition from the water's edge to the high mesas and deep drainages that characterize the Four Corners region. Local landmarks like El Gobernador Knob and Smith Pass rise above the surrounding terrain, providing orientation in a region defined by dramatic erosion. The settlement of Navajo City and the specialized community at the dam provide the primary human anchors in this arid environment. Significant canyons, including Dick Earl Canyon, Negro Andy Canyon, and La Jara Canyon, cut through the northern reaches of the map, illustrating the rugged drainage system that feeds into the reservoir and shapes the local geography.