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1956 Map of Superstition Mtn

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Superstition Mtn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Superstition Mountain dominates the landscape of this Imperial County desert region, serving as the focal point for mid-century military operations and resource exploration. This sheet captures a landscape defined by the Recovery Parachute Test Range, an expansive facility marked by specialized zones such as the Target Area and specific markers like Mosca and Tare. The terrain is characterized by the flat expanses of West Mesa and the seasonal presence of a Dry Lake in the southern portion of the quadrangle.

While military activities occupy much of the range, evidence of early industrial interest appears in the form of several Prospect sites and a Quarry situated along the eastern slopes. Transportation in this arid environment was limited to a network of Jeep Trails, reflecting the specialized and utilitarian nature of the land use during this era of post-war military testing and desert mineral survey.