1951 Map of Valdez B-2

About this map

The Copper River dominates this interior Alaskan landscape, carving through the dramatic bottleneck of Wood Canyon. Surveyed in the early 1950s, the map reveals a wilderness where hydrological monitoring was critical for understanding this powerful glacial drainage system. The presence of the Taral Gaging Sta near the mouth of Taral Creek marks a vital point of data collection in an era of expanding territorial infrastructure. Rising sharply to the southwest, Spirit Mountain anchors the high-elevation terrain, while the confluence of the Hanagita River provides a glimpse into the intricate network of tributaries feeding the main channel. The map also delineates several family or landmark-named waterways, including O'Brien Creek and Haley Creek, which cut through the steep contours flanking the river valley.