1983 Map of West of Baker

About this map

Silurian Valley and the Soda Mountains dominate this Mojave Desert landscape, captured in a period of transition as modern infrastructure intersected with traditional mining interests. The arid expanse is anchored by the desert basin of Silver Lake, shown here as a Dry Lake. This seasonal water system contrasts with the industrial presence of Steel Transmission Lines and a prominent Tower cutting across the valley floor. Evidence of the region's extraction history appears through scattered prospects and a Gravel Pit, while the high elevations of Cooper Mtn and Soda Mtn provide the physical barriers that define the local geography. The map reflects the 1980s-era topographical survey work by the U.S. Geological Survey and Nos/Noaa, documenting a largely uninhabited but surveyed section of San Bernardino County.