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1951 Map of Rat Islands

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Rat Islands
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Amchitka Island and its neighbors in the Rat Islands chain appear here during a period of significant strategic utility. Based on surveys from 1943 to 1949, this topographic record details the remote geography of the western Aleutian Islands, showing the complex volcanic terrain of Semisopochnoi Island with peaks like Mt Cerberus and Anvil Pk. The southern reach of Amchitka Island is marked by specialized infrastructure, including Military Airports and a Quarry, remnants of the region's importance during and after the Second World War.

Smaller landmasses like Little Sitkin Island, Segula Island, and Rat Island are surrounded by treacherous waters such as Rat Island Pass and Oglala Pass. Navigational landmarks like Bird Rock and Zapad Head define the rocky coastline, while isolated structures such as a Cabin on Little Sitkin Island hint at the rare human footprint in this Bering Sea environment. The map effectively captures a landscape defined by its isolation and its brief transition into a mid-century military outpost.