1956 Map of Soda Lake

About this map

The Mojave River terminates in the arid basins of the Mojave Desert, where it feeds into the expansive dry expanse of Soda Lake. This 1956 survey illustrates a landscape of extreme environmental transition, from the high peaks of the Soda Mountains to the shifting sands of the Devils Playground. Evidence of early 20th-century desert survival and infrastructure is found at Rasor Ranch and the rail outpost of Crucero, where the Union Pacific line cuts across the salt flats. The map reveals the critical importance of water in this region, marking specific locations such as Soda Springs (Alkali) and Spring (Alkali). For the local historian, the presence of the Old Grade and various wells highlights the established routes used to navigate these Sand Wash corridors before modern developments altered the high desert interior of San Bernardino County.