1980 Map of Westwater

About this map

The Tavaputs Plateau and the sheer verticality of the Roan Cliffs dominate this rugged 1980 study of the Utah-Colorado borderlands. This landscape is defined by its dramatic geological transitions, where the high tablelands of the East Tavaputs Plateau drop toward the Grand Valley floor. In the lower elevations, the Colorado River and Dolores River carve through the sandstone, creating a corridor for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Resource extraction is a primary feature of the region, evidenced by the Cisco Dome Oil Field and San Arroyo Gas Field, as well as the Crescent Mine. The map also details the southeastern extent of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, highlighting the intersection of tribal lands, state boundaries, and industrial development in the high desert.