1971 Map of Tercio

About this map

Industrial extraction and mountain hydrology define this corner of Las Animas County, where the Tercio Mine and Vega Mine sit near the settlement of Tercio. The landscape is dominated by the steep drainages of the Ute Hills and the winding course of the South Fork Purgatoire River, which receives water from numerous seasonal sources like Cuatro Creek and Alamosa. A notable historical element is the presence of the Old Railroad Grade, which once served the local mining operations by following the river valley through the Beaublen and Miranda and Maxwell Grant lands. The map details a network of canyons, including Bandarito Canyon and Gallegos Canyon, alongside high-elevation features like Bingham Lake and Dead Horse Lake, reflecting a region shaped by both its geology and its turn-of-the-century mining legacy.