1988 Map of Tecolote Ranch

About this map

Tecolote Ranch and the expansive reaches of the Papago Indian Reservation define this desert landscape along the international border in the late 1980s. The terrain is marked by the seasonal drainage of Chukut Kuk Wash and El Gato Wash, which carve through the Tecolote Valley toward the southern boundary with Mexico. This provisional survey provides a unique view of the borderlands, capturing the United States - Mexico international line as it passes south of Tatum Vo. Local history is preserved in the location of former settlements and ranching infrastructure, including San Rafael (Site), Vakamok (Site), and the San Rafael Well. A small Cem near the ranch and various Check Dams illustrate the human efforts to manage life and livestock in this arid environment under the shadow of the Alvarez Mountains.