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2023 Map of Red Basin

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Red Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Owyhee River Wilderness and the protected corridors of the Owyhee Wild and Scenic River dominate this high-desert landscape in Owyhee County. The terrain is defined by deep incisions through volcanic plateaus, most notably at Owyhee Canyon and the sharp peninsula known as The Tongue. These geographical features illustrate a complex drainage system where the Red Basin Creek and West Fork Red Canyon cut through the arid uplands of the Y P Desert.

Water management is central to the area's utility, evidenced by several small impoundments like Potter Reservoir, Big Bend Reservoir, and Flat Top Reservoir. Named features such as Lambert Table and Defeat Ridge rise above the basin floor, while more intimate landmarks like Craig Spring and Dougal Waterhole provide critical water points in an otherwise parched environment. The northeast corner gives way to the eroded geography of The Badlands, highlighting the stark transition between the river canyons and the higher desert plains.