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2017 Map of Wire Lake

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Wire Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Wire Lake and the arid basins of eastern New Mexico define this ranching landscape along the border of De Baca and Chaves counties. The terrain is characterized by a sophisticated network of water management features, where natural depressions like South Home Lake and Rock Lake are supplemented by man-made catchments such as Corona Tank, Sons Tank, and New Tank. These water sources are essential for livestock in a region carved by seasonal drainages, including the prominent North Home Draw and the more dramatic Threadgill Canyon.

Transportation through this territory relies on a grid of improved and primitive routes, such as N Main St, Sotol Rd, and Halfway Trl. The map reveals the topography of the High Plains, from the elevation of Burro Hill and the life-sustaining Burro Spring to the low-lying Dead Mexican Draw and the winding Fifteenmile Arroyo. These features provide a clear picture of the geographic challenges faced by early settlers and modern ranchers alike in this corner of the state.