1952 Map of Black A-2

About this map

Melatolik and the neighboring Bimiut (Site) anchor the coastal fringe of this landscape where the tundra meets the Bering Sea. Photographed in 1951 and field annotated in 1952, the map depicts an intricate mosaic of hundreds of small lakes and ponds that define the delta region of Melatolik Creek. This hydrographic pattern reveals a low-lying environment dominated by expansive mud flats and seasonal wetlands. Offshore, Krekatok Island and the Sand Islands provide a buffer against the open waters of Norton Sound, illustrating the shifting coastal geography of the Alaskan shoreline during the mid-twentieth century. The mapping of specific sites like Bimiut provides a valuable reference for the historical presence of seasonal or permanent settlements in this remote maritime reach of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.