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1956 Map of Puu Oo

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Puu Oo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Humuula Sheep Station and Puu Oo Ranch stand as isolated outposts of human habitation in this high-altitude landscape between the volcanic giants of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The terrain is a complex record of geological events, marked by a series of significant historical events including the Lava Flow of 1843, Lava Flow of 1855, and the Lava Flow of 1935. These flows cut across the Saddle, influencing the path of the Saddle Road and the various jeep trails that navigate the rocky territory.

Conservation boundaries dominate the landscape, with the Kaohe Forest Reserve to the north and the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve and Game Reserve to the south. Notable volcanic cones or puus, such as Puu Huluhulu, Puu Kole, and Puu Kahiliku, provide vertical relief against the expansive lava fields. Water management is critical in this environment, evidenced by scattered Water Tanks and Reservoirs near the ranching sites.