1954 Map of Baird Inlet D-6

About this map

Kagalurpak Lake dominates this landscape of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, appearing as a massive body of water surrounded by a complex network of thousands of small tundra ponds and interconnecting waterways. This mid-century survey by the Army Map Service details a portion of the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range Area No 1, reflecting a period when federal conservation efforts were becoming more formalized in the Alaska Territory. The southern portion of the map transitions into the tidal waters of Baird Inlet, showing the intricate shoreline and the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range Area No 2. The map provides an exacting record of a highly fluid environment where water and land are nearly indistinguishable, offering essential data for understanding the historical hydrology of this subarctic wetland prior to more recent climatic changes.