2017 Map of Talkeetna B-4 SW

About this map

The Denali National Preserve defines the heart of this landscape, where the braided channels of the glacier-fed river system dominate the terrain. The confluence of the West Fork Yentna River and the East Fork Yentna River creates a complex network of gravel bars and shifting watercourses. North of this junction, the Midway Lakes are scattered across a low-lying basin, illustrating the hydrologic character of the Matanuska-Susitna region. Smaller tributaries like Fourth of July Creek, Flag Cr, and Rich Cr drain the surrounding slopes, contributing to the larger Yentna River system. This 2017 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey provides a detailed record of the shifting riverbed and topography within the federal preserve, where the lack of human infrastructure emphasizes the raw, natural state of the Alaskan interior.