2014 Map of Wide Ruins

About this map

The settlement of Wide Ruins anchors this high-desert landscape within the Fort Defiance Agency, where traditional land use and water management are evident through a network of named springs. Critical water sources like Pigeon Spring Number Two, Lichee Sinil Spring, and Tom Joe Spring are dispersed throughout the terrain, suggesting a history of reliance on these specific points for livestock and community survival. The physical geography is defined by the Red Hills and the drainage patterns of Bent Knee Wash and Oak Ridge Wash. Transport routes such as Us 191 and the local Banana Wash Rd connect the area's residents, while Bureau of Indian Affairs routes like Bia-9356 provide interior access to the township sections of T24N and T23N. This 2014 survey records a landscape where geographic names often reflect personal or cultural identifiers, offering significant detail for those studying the intersection of geology and indigenous settlement patterns.