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1981 Map of Salinas Peak NW

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Salinas Peak NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

White Sands Missile Range dominates this arid landscape at the border of Socorro and Sierra counties. The terrain is defined by its scarce water resources and ancient volcanic activity, with a notable field of Lava visible in the northwest corner. This area serves as a restricted military zone, yet the presence of the Marcial Site and a designated School Site suggests a layer of human activity or historical occupancy within the high-desert environment.

Survival in this landscape is traced through a network of named water sources such as North Well, Baca Well, and Anderson Tank. These localized names, alongside industrial markers like several Gravel Pits and a Radio Tower, indicate a working environment where ranching infrastructure or military support facilities are scattered across the desert floor. The orthophotomosaic detail reveals the complex textures of the basin, from the sandy expanses to the scrub-land surrounding Brushwood Well.