1951 Map of Seward D-3

About this map

Esther Island dominates this portion of the Chugach National Forest, carved by glacial activity and deep maritime passages. In the early 1950s, the maritime landscape of Wells Passage and Port Wells served as a critical corridor for northern navigation, evidenced by the Esther Island Light and a CAA Radio Range Sta located near the Dutch Group islands. The map documents the mining and settlement history of the region at Golden and the nearby Golden (Site) on the northern coast. The interior of the island is marked by Esther Lake, while the surrounding waters are defined by numerous inlets such as Cascade Bay, which features a prominent Waterfall Cascade. Glaciers like Crescent Glacier and Eaglek Glacier continue to shape the mainland topography to the north and east, feeding the Avery River and various coastal coves.