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1979 Map of Pulga

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Pulga
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The North Fork Feather River carves a deep canyon through this portion of the Lassen National Forest and Plumas National Forest, serving as a primary corridor for both hydroelectric power and transit in the late 1970s. The Western Pacific Railroad snakes along the canyon walls, threading through numerous tunnels such as Tunnel No 11 and Tunnel No 13 to navigate the steep grade. Industrial infrastructure is prominent along the river, including the Cresta Powerhouse, the Poe Dam, and a Surge Chamber, which converted the river's descent into electrical power.

Upland from the river, the landscape transitions into high ridges and meadows where smaller settlements and landmarks appear. Names like Pulga and Mayaro sit near the riverbanks, while the historic Crain Mill and the intriguing Rag Dump are found in the surrounding hills. This map captures the intersection of Sierra Nevada wilderness with the heavy engineering required to harness its natural resources during the mid-20th century.