1951 Map of Kiska

About this map

Kiska Volcano dominates the northern reaches of this Aleutian island, a landscape defined by its isolated volcanic geography and strategic maritime position between the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Surveyed in the years following the war, the map reveals a land nearly devoid of permanent settlements, noting only scattered Cabins that likely served as temporary shelters for surveyors or military personnel. The complex coastline is deeply indented by Kiska Harbor and Gertrude Cove, which provided vital anchorage in these treacherous waters. Inland, freshwater bodies like West Kiska Lake and Salmon Lagoon stand out against the steep terrain. This survey, compiled from Army Map Service data and USC&GS charts, captures the Rat Islands before modern environmental protections were established, showing the raw topography of Little Kiska Island and the surrounding reefs.