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1950 Map of Fairbanks D-5

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Fairbanks D-5
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Tanana River carves a complex course through this interior Alaskan landscape, dominated by a dense network of wetlands and seasonal waterways. At the heart of the region lies Crescent Island, a significant landform surrounded by the river's main channel and the Sawmill Slough. This mid-century survey captures the area at a time when transportation relied heavily on traditional routes and water-based access, as evidenced by the presence of a Sled Road and small outposts like Swanneck Crossing.

The settlement at Minto sits perched near the riverbank, serving as a rare point of habitation in a landscape of endless lakes and interconnected sloughs. Notable water bodies such as All Hand Help Lake, Lunch Lake, and the expansive Totchaket Slough illustrate the intricate hydrology of the Tanana floodplain. The map preserves the original mid-century topography with minor updates, documenting a wilderness largely defined by its shifting shorelines and the primary artery of the river.