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1961 Map of Rincon Marquez

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Rincon Marquez
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Continental Divide cuts through this high-desert landscape in McKinley County, defining a complex topography of drainage basins and high plateaus. Centered on the towering Chaco Mesa, the terrain is marked by deep erosional features including Rincon Marquez Arroyo and Vicente Arroyo. These waterways illustrate the intricate natural irrigation patterns of the region, where seasonal runoff carves through the sandstone layers of the mesa.

Evidence of local ranching and early petroleum exploration is present through the Elkins Star Lake Ranch and scattered Oil Well sites. The map also records family-named landmarks such as Roberto Sandoval Cañon, which provides valuable genealogical context for the families who managed these arid lands in the early 1960s. The presence of Daniel Wash further emphasizes the importance of water management in this high-altitude environment.