1970 Map of Bettles A-5

About this map

The Kanuti River winds in complex oxbows and meanders across the eastern portion of this wilderness landscape, defining a region of dense water networks and marshland. This 1970 aerial survey, based on photogrammetric methods, illustrates the interior Alaskian terrain within the Kanuti Flats, where the relief is characterized by hundreds of small lakes and ponds. Tributaries such as Nolitna Creek and Kadoshin Creek drain the higher elevations to the south and west, feeding into the low-lying basin. The map reflects a moment in time before significant infrastructure reached this part of the Yukon-Koyukuk region, showing land lines that remained unsurveyed and unmarked at the time of publication. For those studying the hydrology of the Koyukuk watershed, the intricate course of Holonada Creek and the surrounding wetland clusters provide a detailed record of the natural drainage patterns during the early 1970s.