2021 Map of Needles

About this map

The Colorado River defines the border between California and Arizona on this 2021 survey, winding through the Mojave Desert and supporting a complex network of wetlands. On the western bank, the city of Needles serves as a transportation hub where the BNSF Railway and Interstate 40 intersect near the Needles Riverview Cem. Across the water, Arizona Village sits on the Fort Mojave Reservation, while the Fort Mojave Burial Grounds provide a significant cultural landmark for the area. The landscape to the east is dominated by the sprawling Topock Marsh and Goose Lake, a vast aquatic ecosystem that includes curiously named features like The Glory Hole and the Beal Ditch. This modern record traces the ongoing relationship between desert settlements and the vital river corridor, from Needles Airport in the south to the residential streets of Mohave Valley.