1953 Map of Marshall A-5

About this map

Aropuk Lake dominates this 1950s landscape, illustrating the intricate, water-logged geography of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The map, based on photogrammetric methods from 1951 and 1952 aerial photographs, reveals a transition from the massive central lake to the winding Izaviknek R in the northeast. This territory is primarily defined by its hydrology, where land and water merge into a complex network of thousands of small unnamed ponds and marshes. The western edge is designated as the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range Area No 1, reflecting early federal conservation efforts in the region. The absence of roads, trails, or permanent settlements in this quadrangle underscores the true isolation of the Alaskan tundra at this time, providing a clear record of the area's natural state before more recent environmental changes.