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2023 Map of McCarthy A-5 NE

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of McCarthy A-5 NE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Saint Elias Mountains dominate this high-altitude landscape where steep drainages carve through the wilderness of the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Preserve. The topography is defined by sharp elevation shifts between the high MacColl Ridge and the broad, braided course of the Chitina River at the southern edge of the sheet. Numerous named gulches, such as Calamity Gulch, Hells Kitchen Gulch, and Devils Gulch, suggest a history of prospecting or difficult passage through this unforgiving terrain.

Hydrological patterns are dictated by the descent from the peaks toward the valley floor, with Young Creek and Gold Run feeding into the larger river system. The boundary between the preserve and the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park runs across the southern portion of the map, marking a transition in land management within this massive protected area. The lack of roads or permanent structures reflects the extreme isolation of this portion of the Copper River Census Area.