2016 Map of Valdez C-2 NW

About this map

Lower Tonsina sits at the confluence of glacial waters in this 2016 survey of the Copper River basin. The landscape is defined by the braided path of the Copper River, which receives the Tonsina River and Hundell Cr from the west. Much of the eastern terrain lies within the protected boundaries of the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Preserve, where the Chetaslina River and Cheshnina River flow toward the primary river valley. Human infrastructure is concentrated along the Edgerton Hwy/McCarthy Rd, a vital corridor providing access through the Unorganized Borough. This map captures the intersection of wilderness preservation and the thin ribbon of transport that connects remote Alaskan settlements, illustrating how the natural drainage systems dictate the placement of roads and small communities like Lower Tonsina.