1952 Map of Saint Michael A-4

About this map

Norton Sound and Pastol Bay dominate the northern shoreline of this coastal landscape, where the intricate distributary network of the Yukon Delta meets the sea. The 1952 survey highlights the primary settlement of Kotlik situated near the confluence of the Kotlik River and Little Kotlik River. Navigation through this water-logged terrain relied heavily on major channels such as Apoon Pass, Okwega Pass, and Okshokwewhik Pass, while several cabins and navigational aids like the Kotlik Crossing Light mark the sparse human presence. A Winter Trail provides a rare terrestrial route across the marshy interior, connecting smaller waterways like Kaweehnak Slough and Apakshau Slough. The map documents a period of strategic importance for the U.S. Army, which mapped the area using photogrammetric methods from aerial photography taken in 1951.