1956 Map of Black River D-2

About this map

Yukon Flats dominate the southwestern portion of this Alaskan interior landscape, where the meandering drainage of Kevinjik Creek flows toward the larger river systems. The map captures a wilderness in transition during the mid-1950s, defined by the expansive boundaries of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. While largely devoid of permanent settlements, the presence of a lone Landing Strip and isolated Drill Holes indicates the early footprints of resource exploration and aerial access in this roadless territory. In the southeast, the Salmon Trout River carves through the terrain, illustrating the complex hydrology of the region. This 1956 survey, later updated with federal reservation boundaries, provides an essential record of the natural topography before modern land-use designations further altered the administrative landscape of the north.