1953 Map of Big Delta B-4

About this map

Shaw Creek Flats dominates the southern landscape of this interior Alaska region, marking a significant topographical transition from the high ridges to the marshy lowlands of the Tanana River valley. Surveyed in the early 1950s using aerial photography, the map reveals an intricate drainage network where numerous tributaries like Cottonwood Creek and Rapid Creek flow into the larger Shaw Creek system. The northern half is defined by several high-elevation survey markers, including VABM 4084 Mid and VABM 3372 Cotton, which anchor the ridge lines between the deep valleys of Gilles Creek and Caribou Creek. This document captures the wilderness state of the Fourth Judicial Division before significant modern development, emphasizing the natural hydrology and the early geodetic control points used to chart the Alaskan interior.