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2011 Map of O V Mesa

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of O V Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

The Purgatoire River carves a winding path through this corner of Las Animas County, shaping a landscape of deep drainages and high plateaus. The topography is defined by the Purgatoire Canyon and its many tributaries, including Bent Canyon, Bravo Canyon, and Iron Canyon. In the northwest, the Black Hills rise above the river valley, while the broad flat of O V Mesa dominates the southern portion of the map.

Water management in this arid environment is evidenced by the presence of landmarks such as Cistern Windmill, Pameña Windmill, and Mesa Windmill. Historic land use is anchored by Rourke Ranch in the northeast, situated near the confluence of several canyons and the river. This survey captures a moment when the rugged canyons and natural gaps, like Pameña Gap, dictated the paths of local travel along routes like Rourke Rd.