2023 Map of McCarthy C-2 SE

About this map

Glacial ice and high mountain peaks dominate this interior Alaskan landscape within the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and the Wrangell-St. Elias Wilderness. The terrain is defined by the massive Saint Elias Mountains, where the flow of ancient ice is documented through features like Giffin Glacier in the north and the expansive Russell Glacier and Klutlan Glacier further south. This 2023 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey illustrates a region largely untouched by permanent settlement or road infrastructure, focusing instead on the precise topographical contours and hydrographic patterns of the ice fields. The map provides a critical record of the glacial extent and elevation within one of the most protected wilderness areas in the United States, offering a baseline for studying the shifting frozen landscape of the Copper River Census Area.