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1959 Map of McCarthy A-5

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of McCarthy A-5
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The confluence of the Chitina River and the Tana River dominates this mid-century survey of the Alaskan interior. This glaciated landscape features the narrow Tana Canyon and the prominent heights of Mac Coll Ridge and Towhead Mountain. Human presence is minimal, marked primarily by the Tana River Landing Strip and isolated cabins that indicate the area's importance for bush pilots and seasonal trappers.

Drainage systems are intricately mapped, from the Flower Lakes to numerous named gulches such as Calamity Gulch, Champagne Gulch, and Swede Gulch. These names suggest a history of prospecting and exploration along the tributaries of the larger river systems. The map also records natural hazards for river travel, including Rapids along the Tana, while the Castle Bluffs provide a distinct geological landmark overlooking the wide, braided riverbed of the Chitina.