Loading map...

1950 Map of Big Delta B-4

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Big Delta B-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Shaw Creek Flats dominates the southern landscape of this 1950s study, revealing a complex network of wetlands and minor tributaries that characterize this interior Alaskan environment. The map details a transition from the low-lying, swampy expanses of Shaw Creek and Cottonwood Creek to the significant elevations found northward. These heights are punctuated by several vertical control points, including VABM 4084 Mid and VABM 3372 Cotton, which define the drainage basins of the Salcha River and its South Fork.

Remote and largely unsettled during this era, the area is defined by its hydrology rather than human infrastructure. The intricate pathways of Gilles Creek and Caribou Creek wind through the hills, providing a clear record of the natural drainage patterns before modern development. Notable for its lack of roads or trails, the survey relies on aerial photography to document the winding courses of Rapid Creek and Flat Creek as they feed into the broader flats.