1971 Map of Santana Mesa

About this map

The Rio Grande forms the international boundary between the United States and Mexico along the southern edge of this West Texas terrain. Dominating the central topography is Santana Mesa, a high plateau flanked by deep drainage systems including Panther Creek Canyon and the winding Madera Canyon. A remote Landing Strip and a series of Jeep Trails provide the primary evidence of human access in this high-desert environment, where water sources like Seep Spring and Trough Spring were vital for the seasonal livestock operations indicated by a Corral near the river. Along the river road, a small Roadside Park offers a rare public waypoint in a landscape defined by the stark transition from river bottom to high mesa summits such as Madrile.