1963 Map of Cold Bay C-1

About this map

Alaska Peninsula coastal terrain meets the Bristol Bay shoreline in this early 1960s topographical study. The landscape is defined by the complex drainage of the Cathedral River, which winds through the Cathedral Valley toward the Bering Sea. This area, largely within the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, shows a wilderness devoid of roads or trails, characterized instead by significant relief and prominent landmarks like Black Hill and Cape Leontovich. The map documents an environment shaped by glacial and volcanic history, with numerous small lakes and ponds dotting the tundra between the river's forks and North Creek. It provides a clear record of the coastline and interior elevations as they were surveyed via photogrammetric methods just before mid-century environmental protections were formalized.