1984 Map of San Simon Sink

About this map

San Simon Sink sits as a primary depression within a landscape shaped by natural geological erosion and human industrial expansion in Lea County. This 1980s-era survey documents the intersection of physical geography and the oil industry, where a complex network of pipelines and Jeep Trails crisscrosses the high desert between San Simon Ridge and Antelope Ridge. The map reveals the infrastructure required to manage resources in this arid environment, featuring a Pumping Sta, a Radio Tower, and several Gravel Pits. The presence of the broad San Simon Swale suggests the historic movement of water through this terrain, a contrast to the modern industrial features that define the mid-century New Mexico landscape.