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1971 Map of Sundale

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Sundale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1995
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1995

About this map

Lake Umatilla dominates the landscape of this 1971 survey, showing the Columbia River Gorge after the completion of the John Day Dam. The settlement of Sundale sits on the northern bank, featuring a Cem and a Boat Ramp that reflect the area's transition to a reservoir-based economy. To the south, the terrain rises sharply from the riverbank into a series of deep drainages, including Old Lady Canyon, Blalock Canyon, and Lang Canyon.

The map captures a specific moment in the management of the mid-Columbia, where the Columbia River serves as the boundary between Washington and Oregon and between Klickitat and Gilliam Counties. Cultural markers like the Substation, a Water Tank, and various Borrow Pits indicate the industrial footprint and infrastructure required to maintain this vital transportation and energy corridor. More isolated features like The Burn and the Wolfram site highlight the character of the surrounding uplands.