2019 Map of Tercio

About this map

Tercio stands as the primary human landmark in this section of Las Animas County, positioned where the drainage from Mine Canyon meets the local water systems. The landscape is defined by the S Fork Purgatoire River and its numerous tributary canyons, including Leon Canyon and Atamosito Canyon, which carve through the high elevations of the Ute Hills. This 2019 survey documents a terrain where water management is critical, evidenced by the Quatro Ditch and small alpine bodies like Bingham Lake and Dead Horse Lake. The naming of the canyons, such as Gallegos Canyon and Torres Canyon, reflects the deep regional history of the area's land use and early ranching or mining families who navigated these deep draws and ridges.