1950 Map of Shishmaref A-1

About this map

The Serpentine River meanders across this subarctic landscape, characterized by an intricate network of wetlands and tundra ponds typical of the Seward Peninsula. Mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1949 and 1950, the area is defined by its complex hydrology where the North Fork Serpentine River and the South Fork converge. To the north, the Cowpack River flows through a similarly saturated terrain, while the southern reaches are marked by several tributaries including Eldorado Creek, Grayling Creek, and Lone Butte Creek. A rare point of relief in this low-lying marshland is the Trouble VABM 206 survey marker, which stands out against the countless unnamed lakes and basins. The absence of roads or trails on this 1950s record emphasizes the isolation of the second judicial division during this period of mid-century geological survey.