1954 Map of Baird Inlet

About this map

Baird Inlet and the surrounding labyrinth of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are captured here during a period of extensive aerial surveying in the early 1950s. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of water and tundra, featuring the massive Nunavapak Lake and the winding Kuskokwim River to the east. Permanent settlements such as Chefornak and Newtok appear alongside numerous seasonal or historical locations identified as sites, including Chiloghunut and Kealavik. These labels provide a window into the traditional land-use patterns of the Central Yup'ik people. The map also delineates the extensive Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range Area No 1, highlighting early conservation efforts on Nelson Island and across the delta's wetlands. Significant geographic markers like Erchaktuk Mountain and the Ingariak Hills provide rare elevation in this water-dominated terrain.