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1979 Map of Pahute Mesa

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Pahute Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1996
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1996

About this map

Nellis Air Force Range and the Nevada Test Site dominate this landscape, revealing the Cold War era's heavy military and scientific footprint across the high desert. The map is meticulously partitioned into designated areas, including Area 20 and Area 12, and identifies specific facilities like the Radioactive Waste Dump near Yucca Flat. This restricted zone contrasts sharply with the traces of earlier pioneer industry located on the western fringes, where the Pioneer Mine and Clarkdale Mine sit near the edge of Sarcobatus Flat.

Natural features provide the underlying structure for these tactical installations, from the heights of Timber Mountain to the depths of Silent Canyon. Sparse water sources such as Tippipah Spring and Oasis Springs are noted alongside infrastructure like the Tracking Station and the B-J Wye junction. The settlement of Beatty serves as a primary gateway along Nevada 95, marking the transition from public lands to the vast, controlled territories of the military reservations.