1952 Map of Black A-1

About this map

Black River meanders through an intricate landscape of hundreds of unnamed thaw lakes and wetlands in this portion of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Mapped by the Army Map Service using aerial photography from the early 1950s, the terrain is defined by its complex hydrologic patterns, where the Kipniyagok River and Melatolik Creek navigate a nearly level plain with elevations under fifty feet. The only indication of overland travel across this water-saturated environment is a seasonal Winter Trail (Approximate), which appears as a dashed line cutting through the tundra. This map provides a clear view of the natural drainage systems before significant modern changes, illustrating how waterbodies dominate the geography of the Alaskan coast in this era.