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1961 Map of Yucca Lake

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Yucca Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Nevada Test Site technical installations and monitoring infrastructure dominate this early 1960s survey of the high desert. Prepared in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission, the landscape is defined by the dry bed of Yucca Lake and the industrial-scientific corridor of Mercury Highway. This map reveals the dense network of instrumentation required for nuclear testing, including specialized structures like the Smoky Senior 500s Radio Tower, numerous camera towers, and the News Nob observation point.

Transport and logistics are reflected in the presence of an Airstrip, an Abandoned Airstrip, and remote Railroad Tanks. The natural geography of Yucca Flat is juxtaposed against underground telephone lines and gravel mixing towers, illustrating the rapid transformation of the desert for Cold War research. Notable terrain features such as Hogback and Vitrophyre Wash provide a stark backdrop to the radioactive and scientific history of Area 6.