1954 Map of Lime Hills C-5

About this map

The Swift River and its major tributary, the North Fork Swift River, dominate this mid-century landscape in the Lime Hills region. Compiled from aerial photography taken in 1953, the map illustrates a complex network of glacial meltwater and drainage patterns typical of the Alaskan interior. The Gagaryah River cuts through the northwest corner, while the Babel River meanders through the central and northern sections, feeding into a dense mosaic of wetlands and small ponds. This 1954 field-annotated survey provides a clear view of the hydrological system before contemporary environmental shifts, showing no established roads or trails in this part of the territory. The absence of human infrastructure highlights the isolation of the river forks and the surrounding low-relief marshlands, which were interpreted and mapped by the Geological Survey during this intensive period of photogrammetric mapping in Alaska.