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2013 Map of O V Mesa

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of O V Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

O V Mesa rises above a landscape of deep canyons and water-scarce range land in this 2013 survey of Las Animas County. The winding Purgatoire River carves through the eastern portion of the sheet, joined by Chacuaco Cr as it flows beneath the steep walls of Purgatoire Canyon. Much of this territory is managed as part of the Comanche National Grassland, where the physical geography is defined by prominent features such as the Black Hills and the narrow Pamena Gap.

Evidence of historical ranching and the necessity of water infrastructure in this arid environment are found at the Rourke Ranch settlement in the northeast. Functional landmarks like the Cistern Windmill, Pamena Windmill, and Mesa Windmill indicate the vital importance of groundwater for survival. The area is accessed primarily by remote routes such as Rourke Rd, reflecting a region dominated by its natural topography rather than modern urban development.