1970 Map of Split Mountain

About this map

Clayton Ridge and the Montezuma Range dominate this high-desert landscape in Esmeralda County, captured during a 1970 field check. The terrain is defined by extreme relief, centering on the eponymous Split Mountain. Human activity in this arid environment is sparse but purposeful, marked by a lone Mine and Radio Towers situated near Nevada Canyon. The presence of a Spring and the drainage of Jackson Wash indicate the critical role of water in navigating and settling this portion of the Great Basin. Surveyed by the Geological Survey using photogrammetric methods from 1969 aerial photography, the map preserves the exact state of the region's topography and minimal industrial infrastructure before any modern developments or shifts in land use.