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1951 Map of Valdez C-2

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Valdez C-2
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The braided channels of the Copper River dominate this mid-century landscape, carving a wide path through the Alaskan wilderness south of its junction with the Tonsina River. The small settlement of Chitina serves as a vital focal point near the map's southern edge, situated where the Kotsina River meets the main waterway. This 1951 aerial survey captures the transportation infrastructure of the era, including the Copper River Highway and the Chitina Municipal Airfield.

Away from the riverbanks, the terrain rises sharply toward the interior, marked by peaks like Low and water features such as Liberty Falls. Small clusters of human activity are indicated by scattered cabins and a Gravel Pit near Fivemile Creek. The map also details a sequence of interconnected water bodies near the Copper River, including First Lake, Second Lake, and Third Lake, which likely served as local landmarks for navigation and subsistence in this remote river-and-mountain environment.