2015 Map of Silver Lake

About this map

Silver Lake and the smaller Shallow Lake dominate the central basins of this high-desert landscape in Elko County. The terrain is characterized by broad alluvial flats and gentle rises, typical of the northern Great Basin, where seasonal water accumulation creates these distinctive alkaline features. To the north, Twelvemile Flat provides a level expanse between undulating ridges, while the Monument Hills rise in the east-central portion of the quadrangle. The southern reach of the map transitions into the arid expanse of the Owyhee Desert, a region defined by its isolation and sparse vegetation. This 2015 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey provides a precise view of the hydrology and topography of this undeveloped area, including the public land survey system grid lines that organize the ranching and resource lands of northern Nevada.