1951 Map of Samalga Island

About this map

The western reaches of Umnak Island and the neighboring Islands of Four Mountains dominate this mid-century reconnaissance of the Aleutian chain. At the southwestern tip of Umnak, the settlement of Nikolski sits along Nikolski Bay, near the mouth of Sheep Cr. The landscape is defined by extreme volcanic topography, including the massive Mt Cleveland and Lava flows on Chuginadak Island, alongside the steaming Kagamil Volcano to the north. These islands, part of the Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, are separated by treacherous waters like the Samalga Pass and Kagamil Pass. The map captures the remote isolation of these outposts, where only a few Cabins and geographical landmarks like High Hill and Umnak Lake break the coastal wilderness.