1981 Map of Three Rivers SW

About this map

The Malpais dominates the upper half of this orthophotomap, showing the dark, textured expanse of an ancient volcanic field. Produced from aerial photography taken in the early 1970s, the map provides a rare visual record of the stark transition between these Lava flows and the surrounding desert floor within Otero County. Much of the southern landscape is defined by the restricted boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range, an area where human presence is primarily marked by essential water resources for ranching or military use. Small, isolated catchments like Lower Steer Pasture Tank, Long Tank, and Road Tank are the primary landmarks in this arid environment, revealing the critical infrastructure required to manage such a remote section of New Mexico during the late twentieth century.