1977 Map of Old Speck Mountain

About this map

Old Speck Mountain and Baldpate Mountain dominate this late 1970s orthophotoquad, which uses aerial photography from the U.S. Geological Survey to show the unpopulated, high-elevation terrain of Oxford County. Unlike traditional topographic maps, this imagery reveals the actual density of forest cover and the stark transitions in the landscape where mountain peaks give way to deep drainage basins. The drainage network is clearly visible through the shadows and textures of the terrain, with the Swift Cambridge River and Bear River cutting through the northern and central sections of the quadrangle. These watercourses, along with Bull Branch and Goose Eye Brook, define the natural corridors through this region, showing no significant human settlement or development at the time of the photography. This orthophotograph is particularly valuable for understanding the true vegetation patterns and topographic relief of this part of the Maine mountains.