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1960 Map of Yucca Flat

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Yucca Flat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Nevada Test Site infrastructure dominates this 1960 survey, providing a stark view of the Cold War nuclear testing landscape within the Yucca Flat basin. The area is subdivided into operational zones including Area 1, Area 4, and Area 9, which are connected by specialized roads like Mesa Road and the Mercury Highway. The map captures the physical evidence of atomic testing, showing multiple instances of Blast Center (Ruins), specialized Bunkers, and numerous Trenches cut into the desert floor.

Beyond the tactical structures, the map documents the supporting logistics of the Atomic Energy Commission, from the Launching Pad and Tower at B J Wye to the designated Radioactive Waste Dump sites. Natural features such as Balloon Hill in the Halfpint Range stand in contrast to the heavily altered terrain, where deep exploratory Drill Hole D and a remote Landing Strip illustrate the intense scientific and military activity of the era.