1985 Map of West of Railroad Pass

About this map

Diamond Valley dominates this arid landscape, a vast interior basin where the lack of an outlet creates the prominent Alkali Flat. This terminal sink is a defining characteristic of the high desert terrain in Eureka and Elko counties, marked by numerous seasonal springs that emerge at the edges of the salt crust. To the east, the topography shifts abruptly as the valley floor meets the rising foothills, carved by drainages such as Davis Canyon, Fivemile Canyon, and Fourmile Canyon. The 1980s data illustrates the hydrological complexity of this environment, where water is scarce but geologic features like the sprawling Alkali Flats indicate the historical movement and evaporation of mineral-laden runoff from the surrounding ranges.