1986 Map of Platt Well

About this map

Luke Air Force Range dominates this landscape in Maricopa County, highlighting the significant military footprint in the Arizona desert during the mid-1980s. The terrain is defined by the sharp elevations of the Sand Tank Mountains to the northeast and the Sauceda Mountains in the south, separated by an expanse of arid basins. Water management in this dry environment is evident through features like Pottebaum Tank and the namesake Platt Well, which provided essential resources for land use prior to and during the range's establishment. Seasonal drainage patterns are clearly marked by the Quilotosa Wash and Sauceda Wash, which cut through the sandy flats between the mountain ranges, illustrating the natural hydrological network of the Sonoran desert floor.