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1987 Map of Sop Canyon

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of Sop Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Deerneck Mesa and the surrounding high desert plateaus of San Juan County dominate this mid-1980s landscape. The map reveals a land defined by its deep drainages, including the extensive Sop Canyon, Bear Canyon, and Iron Canyon. While the terrain is naturally isolating, human activity is evident through the industrial infrastructure of the Rim Canyon Mine and various Grain Bins scattered near the southern boundary.

A network of unimproved roads and pipelines suggests the region's role in resource extraction and ranching, tracing routes across West Summit and through Pine Hollow. Permanent water sources are scarce, with Sop Spring serving as a vital landmark among the seasonal flows of Dry Wash and East Canyon Wash. This survey captures the intersection of natural erosion and 20th-century industry in a high-elevation environment.