1952 Map of Holy Cross C-5

About this map

The Chuilnak River and Hawk River dominate this interior landscape, mapped during the early 1950s when much of the Alaskan wilderness was first being surveyed using modern photogrammetric methods. This particular area, situated between the Yukon and Kuskokwim watersheds, is defined by its complex drainage systems rather than human settlements. The map illustrates a dense network of unnamed ridges and valleys, where only the primary waterways like the Bonasila River and the meandering Jackson Creek were significant enough to be named in the original survey. The absence of roads or trails, as noted by the U.S. Geological Survey at the time, highlights the territory's isolation prior to significant modern development. Tributaries like Roberts Creek provide the only identifiable landmarks in a terrain characterized by its uniform, rolling topography.