2012 Map of Searles Lake

About this map

Searles Lake dominates the upper half of this 2012 survey, revealing a landscape defined by industrial brine extraction and evaporation ponds. Located within the Searles Valley, the map shows the intricate network of dikes and canals used to manage the dry lake's mineral-rich resources. The stark transition from the complex geometry of the salt pan to the desert floor is marked by drainage features like Teagle Wash, which cuts across the southern portion of the quadrangle. This edition captures the physical footprint of chemical mining operations at the start of the 2010s, illustrating how human engineering has reshaped the natural basin floor to harvest borax and potash.