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2018 Map of Thermal Canyon

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Thermal Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

Joshua Tree National Park anchors the northeast corner of this desert landscape, where the Little San Bernardino Mountains drop sharply toward the basin. The complex topography is defined by deep erosion, featuring West Double Canyon, Yellow Spots Canyon, and the prominent Thermal Canyon winding through the Mecca Hills. These natural features stand in stark contrast to the massive water infrastructure that sustains the region, including the Colorado River Aqueduct and the Coachella Canal.

Agricultural and civil development follows the floor of the Coachella Valley, delineated by a rigid grid of roads such as Pierce St, Ave 54, and Buchanan St. This 2018 survey illustrates the precise boundary where the managed desert irrigation of Coachella meets the untamed arid terrain of the foothills. Technical water management is further evidenced by labels like Wasteway Number Two, which direct the flow through this water-stressed environment.