Tucson, Arizona – 1:1
Tucson, Arizona at 1:1 scale.
Tucson is Arizona’s second-largest urban area (after Phoenix). Nestled at the feet of the Catalina, Tucson, and Rincon Mountains in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, the Tucson valley boasts over one million residents, the University of Arizona, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and numerous unique attractions.
At this scale the map is *mostly* flat – check out Weenus McGurk’s excellent 3:1 map of the area if you want the mountains too.
I-10, I-19, and the Union Pacific Railroad follow their actual routes, complete with elevation on I-10 where appropriate. The 10-19 interchange is left to your own devices (in real life it is slightly complicated, as there’s an exit there too). I didn’t make a starting exit, but remember that one-way one-lane roads can serve as highway ramps too. (The trees by the highways were just guides for me to place them properly and have no special meaning.)
The starting tile is the downtown central business district on the banks of the Santa Cruz River. The river runs, as it used to, but beware – it can only support one water pump! (This *is* a desert, after all.) Fortunately water towers magically conjure infinite water, so no need to worry about pesky water rights and shortages and whatnot. I recommend using the river to send poop to Phoenix.
The map unrealistically has all resources, though the starting tile only has farmland – you’ll have to expand if you want oil or ore!
Good luck, and have fun!
