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1953 Map of Blying Sound

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Blying Sound
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Kenai Mountains dominate this mid-century coastal landscape, where the massive Harding Icefield feeds a series of tidewater and terrestrial glaciers. This survey illustrates the intricate coastline of the Kenai Peninsula Borough during the early 1950s, documenting the reach of the Aialik Glacier, Bear Glacier, and Holgate Glacier before decades of retreat. The maritime geography is defined by deep inlets like Resurrection Bay and Day Harbor, which provided essential shelter for vessels navigating the Gulf of Alaska.

Protected lands are prominently marked, including the Chugach National Forest on Montague Island and the coastal stretches of the Kenai National Moose Range. Smaller features like Rugged Island and the Chiswell Is stand as navigational markers within Blying Sound, while the Resurrection Peninsula separates major waterways. This map captures the region's physical character at a time when its icy interior remained largely inaccessible and its waters were the primary avenues of travel.