2013 Map of Turquoise Hill

About this map

The Santa Fe River and the high desert terrain southwest of the state capital define this landscape as it appeared in the early 21st century. The map centers on the traditional communities of Cieneguilla and La Cienega, where the convergence of several drainages, including Arroyo Hondo and Cienega Creek, created a historic oasis in the arid basin. To the south, the namesake Turquoise Hill and the northern edge of the Cerrillos Hills represent an area with long associations with mineral extraction. This region is a study in modern utility and traditional settlement, where the Santa Fe Municipal Airport and the New Mexico State Penitentiary share the map with older place names like Pueblo Cañon. Significant educational and cultural institutions are noted, including the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and the Santa Fe Community College, illustrating the area's development as an extension of the capital's civic infrastructure.