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1960 Map of Anchorage A-5

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Anchorage A-5
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Glacial ice and alpine basins dominate this mid-century survey of the Chugach Mountains, recorded before the significant landscape shifts of later decades. The massive Colony Glacier and Stairway Glacier are shown at their 1960 extent, feeding the basins of Upper Lake George and Lake George. This specific topography reflects the region's dynamic hydrology, particularly the historical self-damming and seasonal outburst flooding typical of this glacial system.

Administrative boundaries slice through the ice-covered peaks, marking the intersection of the Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest. Smaller alpine features like Whiteout Glacier and the headwaters of the Twentymile River provide fine-grained detail for mountaineers and environmental historians tracking the retreat and movement of southern Alaska's ice fields. The map captures the raw, unroaded wilderness of the Anchorage municipality's backcountry during a period of expanding federal and state conservation efforts.