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1952 Map of Kateel River A-4

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Kateel River A-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Koyukuk River dominates the eastern half of this interior Alaska landscape, carving a wide path where Chips Slough and Chips Island create a complex network of waterways. On the western side, the Gisasa River snakes through the terrain toward its eventual confluence. Sparse human activity is recorded by small markers like Chips Cabin along the main riverbank and another unnamed Cabin further south, indicating the seasonal or permanent dwellings used by those traveling these remote corridors by boat or dog team.

Evidence of overland transit appears in the Over the Hill Portage, a traditional route between river bends. This survey, based on 1952 photography, also identifies several triangulation stations such as VABM Gisasa 1878 and VABM Rick 1134, which served as early benchmarks for mapping the vast territory. Drainage from the upland areas is defined by smaller tributaries like Woodyard Creek, illustrating the natural watershed before significant modern development reached the region.