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1986 Map of Plutonium Valley

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Plutonium Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Nevada Test Site infrastructure dominates this mid-1980s landscape, reflecting the intensive government activities within the Restricted Access Area. The terrain is defined by dramatic topographical depressions and dry basins, most notably Yucca Lake in the northwest and Frenchman Flat to the south. Between these flats, the landscape rises sharply into Massachusetts Mountain and peaks such as French Peak.

Functional markers of nuclear-era history are clearly indicated, including several points labeled Blast Center and numerous Drill Hole locations used for geological and experimental testing. The eastern portion of the map transitions into the Nellis Air Force Range and the Desert National Wildlife Range, where the land rises into the Raysonde Buttes. This survey captures a highly specialized landscape where military testing grounds and scientific research intersect with the natural geography of the Great Basin.