1951 Map of Taku River A-5

About this map

Tongass National Forest dominates this mid-century topographic survey, where the glacially carved landscape of Southeast Alaska is defined by massive river systems and remote alpine lakes. The Speel River and Whiting River flow through the heart of the quadrangle, punctuated by marked rapids that indicate the volatile nature of these glacial drainages. This 1951 survey, based on 1948 aerial photography, documents the wilderness south of Juneau before modern environmental shifts altered the ice fields and shorelines. High elevations are marked by landmarks like Snow Tower, while the coastal transition is captured at Whiting Point and Ox Point. Notable interior water bodies, including the aptly named Upper Sweetheart Lake and Lower Sweetheart Lake, are mapped with precision, providing a primary record of this roadless territory in the early post-war era.