1954 Map of Candle D-1

About this map

The Tagagawik River meanders through this remote interior landscape in the mid-1950s, creating a complex network of oxbow lakes and wetlands across the low-lying terrain. The map is defined by its lack of established roads or permanent settlements, reflecting the wilderness character of the region during this era of topographic survey. Instead of towns, the sheet highlights specific surveyor and topographic markers such as Wrench North Base, Wrench South Base, and the named elevation point Andy. These markers, along with the Middle Fork drainage, provide the primary spatial orientation in a territory dominated by water and high-relief tundra. The mapping by the Geological Survey relies heavily on photogrammetric methods from aerial photography, emphasizing the importance of these geodetic points for establishing control in the Alaskan interior.