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1996 Map of Selden Canyon

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Selden Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2002
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2002

About this map

The Rio Grande snakes through the southwestern corner of this quadrangle, carving the deep passage of Selden Canyon through the desert floor. This landscape is defined by the stark contrast between the fertile Rincon Valley and the surrounding high desert, dominated by landmarks like Tonuco Mountain and Cedar Hill. The expansive New Mexico State University Animal Science Ranch occupies a significant portion of the central plateau, illustrating the region's long-standing connection to academic research and livestock management in arid environments.

Evidence of historical resource extraction appears near the river, with several Mines and Prospects noted on the slopes above Tonuco. Transportation and utility infrastructure are represented by the corridor of Interstate 25 and scattered Radio Towers. Water, the most precious resource in this terrain, is tracked through a network of named points such as Buckle Bar Well, Selden Well, and Thorn Well, alongside drainage features like Broad Canyon and Tonuco Draw.