2021 Map of Soda Lake North

About this map

The arid landscape of the Mojave Desert unfolds across this quadrangle, dominated by the northern reaches of the vast Soda Lake basin. This 2021 study documents the intersection of modern infrastructure and protected wilderness within the Mojave National Preserve. Near the edge of the Soda Mountains, the settlement of Desert Heights sits just west of the prominent Interstate 15 corridor, while the distinctive Zzyzx RD leads southward toward the historic oasis at Zzyzx Spring. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation shifts, from the salt flats of the playa to the rising slopes of Little Cowhole Mtn and Hanks Mtn. Water remains the most critical feature in this environment, represented by isolated points like Mesquite Spring and the ephemeral Shortz Lake, highlighting the survival of spring-fed sites in an otherwise parched terrain.