1950 Map of Norton Bay C-5

About this map

Reindeer Reservation land borders the southern shoreline of Norton Bay, reflecting the unique pastoral history of the Seward Peninsula in the mid-twentieth century. The map depicts a predominantly maritime and coastal landscape, where the frozen expanse of the bay was navigated via a Winter Trail (Approximate) that cut across the ice. This path provided a seasonal connection across the water, a common transit method in this region before permanent road infrastructure was established. On the eastern shore, distinctive landmarks like Little Mountain and the survey point Pussy VABM 119 stand above the marshy coastal lowlands. This survey, compiled from 1950 aerial photography and early 1900s hydrographic data, captures the intersection of traditional seasonal travel routes and early federal land management in western Alaska.