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2016 Map of Topton

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Topton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Valley River and Nantahala River drainage systems define this high-altitude landscape where the Snowbird Mountains, Valley River Mountains, and Tusquitee Mountains converge. This 2016 survey highlights the intricate hydrology feeding into Nantahala Lake, a massive reservoir surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest. The settlement of Topton sits at the northern edge along the corridor of Route 74, while the high peaks of London Bald, Weatherman Bald, and Tusquitee Bald provide a dramatic vertical profile for the region.

Evidence of significant engineering is visible in the Nantahala Tunnel, which cuts through the mountain ridges north of Aquone. The map captures a detailed view of the rugged cove and gap topography, from Lambert Cove to Wolf Creek Gap, which historically dictated the movement of people and commerce through these North Carolina highlands. Family-named landmarks like Julie Ridge and Johnson Ridge offer specific points of interest for those tracing local history and land use in the Western North Carolina mountains.