Loading map...

1959 Map of Yakutat A-2

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Yakutat A-2
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Dry Bay dominates this coastal survey, where the massive delta of the Alsek River meets the Gulf of Alaska. The landscape is a complex network of glacial runoff and tidal influence, characterized by extensive Tidal Flats and seasonal waterways like Muddy Creek and the Tay River. Within the southern reaches of the Tongass National Forest, the map captures the remnants of early twentieth-century industry and transport, notably the Old RR Grade and a Cannery (Aband) near the shoreline.

Transportation in this remote terrain relied on a combination of water, air, and rudimentary land routes. Multiple Landing Strips are scattered across the flats and near Bear Island, while a Tractor Trail skirts the coast. The distribution of scattered Cabins suggests a reliance on the seasonal fishing and trapping economy common to this region before modern infrastructure transformed the Alaskan panhandle.