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2021 Map of Sawik Mountain

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Sawik Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

Taliesin West, the winter home and laboratory of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, sits prominently at the base of the McDowell Mountains in this modern survey of the northeast Phoenix valley. The map documents the extensive residential development that has filled the desert floor, with named neighborhoods like Scottsdale Ranch, Casa Rica, and Haciendas del Lago creating a dense suburban grid. This built environment is defined by its relationship to water infrastructure, notably the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct and the historical Arizona Canal, which both cut across the landscape.

While much of the area is developed, the northern and eastern portions preserve the desert character of the McDowell Mountains. Features like the Taliesin Overlook and various washes, including Taliesin Wash and Lost Dog Wash, illustrate the drainage patterns from the high ground. To the southeast, the isolated peak of Sawik Mtn stands near the edge of Fountain Hills, marking the transition from the planned communities of Scottsdale to the more open terrain of the Salt River Valley.