The Needles

After assembling the small steamboat at mouth of the Colorado River, Lieutenant Ives and party steamed upstream about 200 miles, observing details of the river, the surrounding terrain and the local inhabitants.

Needles plate

Plate II in the Geology section of Ives’ report titled “The Needles (Mojave Range)” Copyright © 2000 by Cartography Associates, www.davidrumsey.com

This view is easy to see from nearly the exact viewpoint of the lithograph above. This photo was made on the access road at Arizona Exit 1 of Interstate 40 just east of the Colorado River. Tom Jonas photo.

This view is easy to see from nearly the exact viewpoint of the lithograph above. This photo was made on the access road at Arizona Exit 1 of Interstate 40 just east of the Colorado River. Tom Jonas photo.

Farther north around Boulder Canyon, the Explorer struck a submerged rock. While repairs were made Ives continued up the river in a small skiff to reconnoiter before resuming the voyage with the larger boat. He determined that the head of practical navigation was the northern inlet of Black Canyon, a spot that is submerged under Lake Mead today.