1951 Map of Karluk

About this map

The remote coastlines of the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island are documented here during a period of transitional post-war surveying. The map is centered on Shelikof Strait, a vital maritime corridor separating the mainland wilderness of Katmai National Monument from the rugged interior of Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. On the Kodiak side, the settlement of Karluk sits near the mouth of the Karluk River, a location historically significant for its salmon resources, evidenced by the presence of a Cannery at Larsen Bay. On the mainland shore, the landscape is defined by massive natural features like Becharof Lake and the peak of Mt Kubugakli. Scattered Cabins and isolated points like Upper Station suggest the sparse, seasonal human footprint in this wilderness area, where access was dictated by the sea and the terrain rather than roads.