1952 Map of Valdez D-8

About this map

The Little Nelchina River and the larger Nelchina River dominate this interior Alaskan landscape, which was surveyed using aerial photography from 1948. This map captures the region at a time when the Glenn Highway was the primary corridor through the northern section, passing by Mile 140. The topography is marked by several significant peaks, identified by triangulation stations such as VABM Black 5854 and VABM Shale 4822, which overlook the expansive waters of Twin Lakes. A solitary Cabin located near the riverbank suggests the isolated nature of human settlement in this sub-arctic environment during the early 1950s. The map illustrates the complex drainage patterns of the river system as it winds through the high-elevation terrain of the Matanuska-Susitna area.