248 GUIDEBOOK OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES 
owes its name to the former presence of a marsh and a pool of brackish 
water of unknown origin. A short distance beyond is the East High- 
land Canal, which carries irrigation water along the east margin of 
Imperial Valley as far as Niland. From the canal crossing there is an 
excellent view of the beach of the old Lake Cahuilla, which once 
occupied the Salton Basin. (See p. 253.) The beach, which consists 
of sand, here forms a steep bluff about 40 feet high and extends far to 
the southeast along the east side of the canal. 
Near Niland outcrops of soft sandstone appear in low ridges con- 
stituting the north slope of Imperial Valley. The sandstone is 
: interstratified with shale, clay, and conglomerate, the 
Niland. 
cet Sagi conglomerate mostly as a basal member. These 
Population 200.* rocks are of Miocene or Pliocene age and steeply 
ariel Orleans 1,815 tilted. They crop out almost continuously on the 
northeast side of the railroad to Indio and beyond. 
From Niland, formerly called Imperial Junction, a branch railroad 
leads south to Brawley, E] Centro (32 miles), and Calexico (41 miles), 
in Imperial Valley. In the eastern part of Niland the railroad is 
crossed by the power line that furnishes electricity to Imperial Valley. 
The current is generated by water power in Owens Valley, 300 miles 
to the north. The line extends northwestward a short distance north 
of the railroad, to Indio and beyond. 
Imperial Valley has an area of about 600 square miles, occupying 
the central part of Imperial County southeast of Salton Sea. Most 
of it lies 10 to 175 feet below sea level. The parallel of 33° north 
latitude passes through its center, and with the low elevation and this 
Colorado River to be allotted to Mexico | than has ever been utilized in the area 
s can Members of the International | desire nearly five times as much, or one- 
Water ‘Commission have suggested | fourth of the total annual content of the 
