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1960 Map of Valdez A-8

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Valdez A-8
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The massive Columbia Glacier dominates the northwestern corner of this landscape, its terminus pushing toward the waters of Columbia Bay. Mapped just a few years before the 1964 earthquake altered much of the Alaskan coastline, this survey documents the extensive ice fields and coastal inlets of the Chugach National Forest. The map traces the maritime corridor from Valdez Arm through the constricted Valdez Narrows into Port Valdez, a vital waterway for the region's shipping.

Several smaller glaciers, including the Anderson Glacier, Shoup Glacier, and the Westbrook Glacier, are shown feeding into the surrounding bays and valleys. Landforms like Mount Cameron and Mount Thomas rise sharply above the fjords, while named coastal features such as Sawmill Bay and Jack Bay indicate the intricate shoreline topography. This record is particularly valuable for visualizing the glacial positions and coastal navigation markers like Middle Rock Light in their pre-1964 state.