SPACEPHOTOS

Dodge City Area, Kansas Spring, 1998 Located in the Great Plains of southwestern Kansas, Dodge City (an area of finer texture situated midway between the center and left center of the image) is discernible in this northeast-looking low-oblique view. Situated on the Arkansas River, Dodge City is a wheat and livestock distribution center. The city also produces agricultural implements and supplies in this mostly agriculture-based region. Dodge City was laid out as a railroad livestock shipping railhead in 1872 for the Santa Fe Railroad. The city flourished and become a wild and rowdy cow town. Some of its most famous residents were Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Dodge City, as seen on the image, is surrounded by agricultural fields, including many circular central pivot-irrigation fields. Different colors in the fields represent different crops and different stages of planting. The Ogalala Acquifer supplies most of the underground water used to irrigate crops in the Dodge City area.