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2017 Map of Taintor Desert

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Taintor Desert
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Taintor Desert defines the arid, high-country character of this landscape along the border of Big Horn and Rosebud counties. The terrain is deeply incised by a complex network of seasonal drainages including Taintor Fork Canyon Cr, Clarks Fork Canyon Cr, and S Fork Canyon Cr. These watercourses flow through high ridges and plateaus, illustrating the erosive forces that shaped this remote portion of southeastern Montana.

Transportation is limited to the eastern edge of the quadrangle, where Tongue River Rd follows the valley floor, providing the primary access through this dry environment. The mapping reveals a land shaped by wildlife and cattle movement, with names like Prairie Dog Cr, Coyote Cr, and Jack Cr reflecting the local ecology. This 2017 U.S. Geological Survey record captures the township and range grid as it overlies the natural topography, marking an area largely defined by its natural features rather than dense settlement.