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1953 Map of Ojo Caliente

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Ojo Caliente
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Rio Ojo Caliente valley serves as the central corridor for life and commerce in this mid-century New Mexico landscape. The community of Ojo Caliente acts as a primary hub, supported by smaller settlements like Gallegos, Duranes, and Gavilan. Irrigation infrastructure, including the Ojo Caliente Ditch, indicates the vital role of water management in this arid environment, while the presence of the Ojo Caliente Sch and Ojo Caliente Cem point to established civic and familial roots.

Extending into the Carson National Forest, the terrain is defined by dramatic elevations such as Cerro Colorado and the La Madera Mountains. Resource extraction is evident in the northern reaches, where the San Texas Mine and Joseph Mine are situated near the Canada de Pueblo. These features, along with numerous named arroyos like Arroyo El Rito, illustrate a geography shaped both by geological forces and the persistent human effort to mine and farm along the Rio Arriba and Taos county line.