1952 Map of Karluk

About this map

Kodiak Island and the rugged coastal reaches of the Alaska Peninsula face each other across the deep waters of Shelikof Strait in this early 1950s survey. The landscape is defined by its isolation and the critical intersection of maritime and interior environments, where the Karluk River flows into the Karluk Lagoon. Settlement is sparse, anchored by the village of Karluk and the remote outpost at Ayakulik. The map documents the early infrastructure of the region, including the Karluk Landing Strip and a Karluk Seaplane Airport, reflecting the era's total reliance on air and sea travel. Large tracts of the interior are managed under the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge and Katmai National Monument, highlighting the transition from frontier extraction toward conservation. Remote field locations like the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper Station illustrate the scientific and regulatory presence in these salmon-rich waters.