1954 Map of Gareloi Island

About this map

Mt Gareloi towers as the central landmark of the Aleutian chain in this mid-century survey, surrounded by the churning waters of the Amchitka Pass and Tanaga Pass. The volcanic landscape is starkly defined, showing the prominent Tanaga Volcano on Tanaga Island alongside smaller outcroppings like Unalga Island and the Delarof Islands. This era of mapping was compiled from Army Map Service records and hydrographic charts, documenting a maritime environment where isolated structures, noted simply as Cabin or Cabins, were the only signs of human presence. Navigation through the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean is detailed via bathymetric soundings and named coastal features like Cape Sajaka and Dinkum Pt. The map captures a moment when these remote reaches of the Aleutian Islands were meticulously charted for military and scientific purposes, long before modern digital surveillance.