1990 Map of West of Ventana

About this map

The Papago Indian Reservation encompasses this high desert landscape, defined by broad alluvial basins and isolated peaks. This 1990 provisional survey documents a transition in mapping history, combining original 1961 aerial photography with limited revisions from the mid-1980s. The terrain is characterized by the expansive Kaka Valley and the Quijotoa Valley, where seasonal drainage patterns like the San Simon Wash provide the primary geographic structure. To the southeast, the Castle Mountains rise sharply, offering a stark contrast to the surrounding valley floors. The presence of the Gila and Salt River Meridian serves as a critical surveying benchmark for the region. The map reflects a landscape with minimal modern infrastructure, highlighting unimproved roads and trails that connect remote desert reaches before the turn of the 21st century.