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2020 Map of Penasco Amarillo

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Penasco Amarillo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Brazos Cliffs dominate the northeastern horizon of this section of Rio Arriba County, where the high-altitude terrain of the Carson National Forest meets the northern New Mexico ranching tradition. The landscape is defined by the dramatic descent from the volcanic heights of Peñasco Amarillo down to the deeply incised Brazos Box canyon. This 2020 record captures the hydrology of the upper Rio Grande watershed, tracing the courses of Rio Brazos and the Rito de Tierra Amarilla as they carve through the sandstone and shale formations.

Transportation and infrastructure are concentrated in the lower elevations of the northwest, including the Esenada Airport and a small network of residential drives such as Peary Ln and 1751 Dr. The map provides a detailed view of the interface between private landholdings and public forest lands, marked by the winding path of Co Rd 485 as it navigates the steep contours of the surrounding mountains.