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1953 Map of Blying Sound

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Blying Sound
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Harding Icefield dominates the western interior of this coastal survey, serving as the massive source for the Aialik Glacier, Pederson Glacier, and Holgate Glacier. These ice flows carve deep into the Kenai Mountains, creating the dramatic fjords of Aialik Bay and Harris Bay. The map captures the intricate shoreline of the Kenai Peninsula at a time when these glacial systems and their terminal moraines dictated the maritime access points to the region's interior.

To the east, the entrance to Resurrection Bay is flanked by Rugged Island and the Aialik Peninsula, while the open expanse of Blying Sound meets the Gulf of Alaska. Further offshore, the boundary of the Chugach National Forest extends across Montague Strait to include the rugged southwestern tip of Montague Island, where isolated landmarks like Cape Cleare and Wooded Is provided essential navigation points for vessels navigating the stormy waters of the North Pacific.