1970 Map of Red Desert

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high desert terrain, marking a significant hydrologic boundary in Sweetwater County. The landscape is defined by the massive Wamsutter Depression and the elevations of Big Hill and Wamsutter Big Rim Hill. Human activity here centers on the vital transportation and industrial corridor running east-to-west, where the Union Pacific railroad and numerous pipelines parallel the regional topography. The small settlement of Red Desert and the station at Frewen serve as lone outposts in an area characterized by energy extraction, evidenced by scattered Gas Wells, a Drill Hole, and a Mine. Water management is critical in this arid environment, represented by the Threemile Ditch, Frewen Lake, and a Pumping Sta located near the railway.