1956 Map of Black River

About this map

The Porcupine River and Black River meander through a labyrinth of lakes and sloughs in this 1956 survey of the northeastern Alaskan interior. This remote landscape, crossing the Arctic Circle, is characterized by the expansive wetlands of the Yukon Flats and the transition into higher ground at Frozen Calf Mountain and Steamboat Mountain. Human presence is marked by small settlements such as Chalkyitsik, Salmon Village, and John Herberts Village, alongside more isolated landmarks like the Doghouse Cabin and Joe Ward Camp. The map documents a period before modern infrastructure, where the Chalkyitsik Landing Strip and river corridors like the Little Black River served as primary conduits for travel. The international boundary at the eastern edge separates the wilderness of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from the Yukon Territory in Canada.