2018 Map of Pinta Playa

About this map

Sierra Pinta dominates this portion of the Sonoran landscape, providing a sharp topographic contrast to the surrounding basins. This 2018 survey documents a region defined by extreme aridity and volcanic history, where the dark expanse of the Pinacate Lava Flow meets the floor of the Pinacate Valley. The map centers on the Pinta Playa, a seasonal dry lakebed that serves as a focal point for the Tule Desert to the west and the southern reaches of the Mohawk Valley to the north. This is a wilderness of profound geological exposure, showing the precise relationship between the jagged uplift of the Sierra Pinta and the low-lying drainage basins that collect infrequent desert runoff. The lack of modern development emphasizes the persistent character of this remote corridor along the Arizona borderlands.