1953 Map of Kantishna River D-5

About this map

The Tanana River dominates the northeastern corner of this 1953 interior Alaska landscape, where it makes a significant turn at Harper Bend around Murray I. This environment is characterized by its complex river systems, with the heavily braided Chitanana River winding through the center of the sheet and the Cosna River cutting across the southeastern corner. The topography was established through 1952 aerial photography and 1953 field annotation, documenting a wilderness without established roads or trails. Geodetic control is marked by VABM 966 Nana, while the Fairbanks Base Line provides a primary surveying reference across the central terrain. The map's portrayal of these waterways captures the shifting hydrology of the Tanana valley before later modern developments, offering a detailed look at the drainage patterns of the Alaskan interior during the early Cold War era.