1950 Map of Norton Bay D-4

About this map

Norton Bay defines the southwestern corner of this coastal Alaskan landscape, where the tides meet a complex system of deltaic wetlands and meandering watercourses. The Koyuk River enters from the northwest, while the Inglutalik River cuts a deep, winding path through the rising terrain to the east before emptying into the bay. This 1950 survey, based on aerial photography from the Army Corps of Engineers, reveals an unpopulated wilderness of tundra and scrub, characterized by hundreds of small lakes and ponds across the coastal plain. The lack of any roads or trails highlights the reliance on these major river corridors for transport and subsistence in the Seward Peninsula region during the mid-century era.