1959 Map of McCarthy A-3

About this map

Massive glacial systems and braided river valleys dominate this mid-century survey of the Wrangell Mountains region. The Chitina River flows through the central valley, receiving the glacial melt of the Short River and numerous mountain drainages. The landscape is defined by the immense Hawkins Glacier and Barnard Glacier, which carve through the high elevations, leaving behind a complex network of creeks like Goat Creek and Erickson Creek. Standing as a prominent navigation point above the convergence of waterways is Gibraltar Hill. This map, based on 1957 aerial photography, captures the raw hydrological state of the Alaskan wilderness before significant human infrastructure was established in the quadrangle, illustrating how the ice and water dictate the area's natural boundaries.