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1971 Map of V Lake

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of V Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Steens Mountain dominates this high-altitude landscape of southeastern Oregon, where water sources like Carlson Springs and Twin Springs dictate the utility of the terrain. The map reveals a remote ranching and aviation infrastructure, anchored by the Smith Landing Strip and Home Flat. To the west, the Skull Creek Reservoir and V Lake provide critical water management in an area otherwise marked by ephemeral drainage like Dry Creek.

Transitioning from the peaks to the basin floor, the topography drops sharply toward the eastern Depression and the edge of Alvord Lake. This 1971 field-checked survey captures several utilitarian features of the era, including a Radio Facility and scattered Prospects near Bone Creek. Names like Whisky Hill and Whisky Creek suggest a localized history of early travel or camp life along the rugged eastern slopes of the range.