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2017 Map of Ponderosa

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Ponderosa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The Jemez River and Rio Guadalupe converge amidst the towering plateau country of Sandoval County, defining the high-desert landscape near the settlements of Ponderosa and Cañon. Much of this territory is managed within the Santa Fe National Forest, where the topography is dominated by expansive flat-topped features like Guadalupita Mesa, Virgin Mesa, and San Juan Mesa. This survey illustrates a network of local access roads such as Vista Hermosa Rd and Madrid Rd that serve the canyon floors and mesa edges.

The human geography of the area is centered on the valley floors, where the Ponderosa Cem and roads like Rancho de Garcia suggest a long history of ranching and community life. Significant drainages including Vallecito Cr and Paliza Canyon carve through the Jemez Mountains, creating a complex system of canyons like Cañon de San Diego and Cañon de la Cañada that have long dictated the movement of people and water through this high-altitude environment.