1986 Map of Nova Canyon

About this map

The dramatic transition from high ridge lines to the desert floor defines this mid-1980s topographic study of the Panamint Valley. The eastern portion of the map is dominated by the boundary of the Death Valley National Monument, where steep, carved drainages such as Nova Canyon descend into the arid basin. This landscape reflects the complex tectonic and alluvial history of Inyo County, showing a desert floor marked by numerous benchmark elevations and sparse infrastructure. State Route 190 provides the primary corridor through this desert terrain, following the natural contours of the northern valley edge. The presence of Dolomite Can in the north suggests the localized geological focus of the era's surveyors, capturing a moment when much of this territory remained under federal management as a National Monument before later status changes.