1966 Map of Pretty Rock

About this map

Pretty Rock anchors this high-desert landscape in the mid-1960s, a period captured through photogrammetric methods just before the region's infrastructure expanded. The map reveals a land defined by complex drainage systems and arid plateaus, where the vast Lip Flats overlook a network of seasonal watercourses. Significant topographic features like Tsaya Canyon and the winding De-na-zin Wash dominate the northern and southern reaches, illustrating the erosional character of the San Juan Basin. The presence of Black Lake provides a rare perennial water feature in this dry environment, while the path of Coal Creek suggests the underlying geological resources that have long influenced the development of this corner of New Mexico.