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1979 Map of Bethel A-3

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Bethel A-3
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Kwethluk River winds through this sub-arctic landscape, providing a central drainage for the numerous waterways that define the region. In the late 1970s, the area remained largely undeveloped, with human presence marked by the remote Canyon Creek Landing Strip located near the base of Polar Mountain. The terrain is a complex network of wetlands and high ground, where Canyon Creek and its tributary Bear Creek cut through the topography.

Evidence of historical prospecting or small-scale mineral exploration is suggested by place names like Rich Gulch and Slate Creek. To the north, the Willow Creek and Little Swift Creek systems drain towards the Crooked Creek basin, while the southern portion of the map is dominated by the Eek River. This survey captures the wilderness character of the Alaska interior before modern expansion, where travel was dictated by river systems and isolated bush strips.