2011 Map of The Hole in the Ground

About this map

The Hole in the Ground defines this high-desert landscape in Malheur County, where the Owyhee River carves through deep volcanic canyons. The 2011 survey documents a remote ranching territory where water management is critical, as evidenced by a network of upland basins including Tuesday Reservoir, Wednesday Reservoir, and Lodge Reservoir Number One. Local land use is tied to long-standing family operations such as Morcom Ranch and Henry Ranch, connected by the unpaved corridor of Morcom Rd. Dramatic vertical relief is captured along Owyhee Canyon and Black Canyon, while naming conventions like Riley Horn Point and Deer Butte help orient navigation across the plateaus. Notable river features like Greeley Bar and the Rock Dam reflect the geological and human adaptations to this arid river system.