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1949 Map of Searles Lake

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Searles Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Industrial mineral extraction and desert infrastructure define this high-desert landscape just after the war. The presence of settlements like Argus, Borosolvay, and South Trona along the western edge of Searles Lake illustrates the intense salt and potash mining operations of the era. To the north, Sediment tanks and various pipeline networks connect these remote outposts to the surrounding terrain, while a Dismantled RR traces the historical movement of materials before transportation patterns shifted.

Deep desert topography is marked by the distinct Pinnacles and the Argus Range, where mining activity continues with several Mine and Prospects labels scattered through the hills. To the west and south, the Naval Reservation boundary encompasses a large portion of the valley, including Salt Wells Valley. This 1949 survey provides a clear view of the Mojave's transition into a more established industrial and military corridor, preserved before the later expansion of local infrastructure.