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1950 Map of Searles Lake

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Searles Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

Industrial mineral extraction dominates the landscape of Searles Lake in this mid-century survey, where the dry lake bed is punctuated by sediment tanks and a network of tanks near the chemical processing centers. The settlement pattern follows the Trona R.R. along the western shore, connecting workers and materials between Argus, Borsolvay, South Trona, and Westend. This area represents a highly specialized desert economy centered on potash and borax, with infrastructure like the Trona road and the railroad providing the only lifelines across the arid terrain.

To the west, the Argus Range rises sharply, marked by numerous inactive mines and prospects that speak to the region's earlier prospecting history. A significant portion of the western high ground is designated as a Naval Reservation, reflecting the military's growing post-war footprint in the California desert. Notable natural landmarks include the striking geological formations of The Pinnacles and the deep cut of Christmas Canyon at the southern edge of the survey.