1966 Map of Tovar Mesa

About this map

Tovar Mesa dominates this landscape of the Hopi Indian Reservation, where the high desert floor is carved by the ephemeral flows of Oraibi Wash and Polacca Wash. This mid-1960s mapping record highlights a transition in land management within the Navajo-Hopi Joint Use Area, featuring the small settlements of Shalako and Tees Toh. The geography is defined by a series of named points and ridges, including the prominent Giants Chair, Crows Nest Point, and Lost Gun Point. The importance of water in this arid environment is evident through the documentation of scattered springs like Little Burro Spring and Coyote Spring, as well as several earthen barriers such as Backbone Dam and Navajo Lookout Dam. A single Quarry and a network of jeep trails provide clues to the local economy and movement across the sweeping sand dunes that characterize the southern reaches of the quadrangle.