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1954 Map of Iditarod A-1

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Iditarod A-1
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Kuskokwim River defines the landscape of this mid-century survey, carving a wide, meandering path through the interior of Alaska. This 1954 fieldwork reveals a region shaped by its watercourses, notably the Nunsatuk River and the sharp bend known as Devils Elbow. Human presence is sparse and temporary, evidenced only by the isolated Wasky Cabins and other unnamed Cabins situated along the riverbanks.

Triangulation stations like VABM Wasky, VABM Elbow, and VABM Tatla provide the primary fixed points for mapping this territory. The Bureau of Land Management predetermined unsurveyed land lines, marking a transition from physical exploration to formalized administrative control. The map also records extensive swamp and low-relief areas interpreted from aerial photography, illustrating the difficult, water-saturated terrain that dictated the placement of early settlements and transport routes in the Alaskan interior.