1983 Map of Round Mountain NW

About this map

Extensive stretches of Mud Flat define this arid landscape within the Great Salt Lake Desert, captured during a 1983 revision of earlier 1970s aerial photogrammetry. The terrain is largely dominated by the restricted grounds of the Hill Air Force Range, a massive military installation that shapes the land use and access in this part of Box Elder County. The orthophoto-based topography reveals the subtle elevation changes of the desert floor, where isolated hills and outcrops rise sharply from the surrounding flats. The map serves as a technical record of the high-altitude testing and training environment used by the military during the later years of the Cold War, highlighting the stark isolation of the West Desert's salt flats and their strategic importance for large-scale aerospace operations.