1956 Map of Black River A-4

About this map

The Little Black River winds through the northwestern corner of this 1956 survey, defining a landscape of low-lying wetlands and countless small, unnamed ponds. This interior Alaskan terrain transitions sharply in the south, where the elevation rises toward the prominent massif of Bear Mountain. This peak dominates the southeastern quadrant, serving as the headwaters for Bear Creek, which drains toward the southern map boundary. Based on aerial photography from 1955 and field annotated in 1956, the map shows a region entirely devoid of established roads or trails during the mid-century era. The intricate network of lakes and marshes surrounding the river suggests a complex hydrological system typical of the Yukon-Koyukuk region before significant modern development.