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1972 Map of O V Mesa

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of O V Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Purgatoire River carves a deep, sinuous path through this Colorado landscape, defining the character of the southeastern terrain in Las Animas County. The river is flanked by dramatic breaks and canyons, including Bent Canyon and Iron Canyon, where the topography drops sharply from the surrounding tablelands. Cattle ranching and the pursuit of water are central to the story of this area, evidenced by the presence of Rourke Ranch and a network of named water sources like Cistern Windmill and Pamena Windmill.

Evidence of early occupation remains visible at Ruins and a small Cem near the river bend, while the massive OV Mesa stands as a prominent landmark in the south. The area is traversed by a simple Jeep Trail, emphasizing the isolated and unpaved nature of this portion of the Black Hills during the early 1970s. The geography here is a complex arrangement of named drainages like Welsh Canyon and Rock Canyon, showing how the land was organized by its natural features and the vital Spring locations.