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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: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge encompasses the vast majority of this landscape, where the meandering Gisasa River flows from the west to meet the larger Koyukuk River. This 1952 photogrammetric survey reveals a wilderness defined by water and low-lying wetlands, documented well before the federal reservation boundaries were officially established in 1980. The intricate network of side channels is marked by features like Koyukuk Slough and Chips Slough, which separate Chips Island from the mainland.

Evidence of human movement through this roadless interior is sparse but significant, centered on the river corridors. A Cabin and the specifically named Chips Cabin stand as rare landmarks along the banks of the Long Stretch. Further south, the Over The Hill Portage suggests a traditional overland route used to bypass the winding river bends, while Woodyard Creek hints at the historic fueling needs of riverboats that once navigated these northern waters.