1952 Map of Cape Mendenhall D-3

About this map

Bimiut and other seasonal indigenous settlements line the southern coastline of Nunivak Island in the early 1950s. This survey, compiled from aerial photography, captures a landscape of subsistence and survival within the Nunivak National Wildlife Refuge. The coast is defined by shifting sands and treacherous shorelines, ranging from the Oongalambingoi Dunes to areas of Mud and Boulders. Several traditional seasonal camps are documented, including Nunathloogagamiut and Etikamiut, situated near critical resources. The interior is dominated by topographical markers like Ingriruk Hill, while the southern extremity terminates at the prominent Cape Mendenhall and Irwakyaruk Pt, where the land meets the Bering Sea. The map provides a precise record of these seasonal locations before modern shifts in settlement patterns, offering a clear view of the island's geography as it was understood at mid-century.