2016 Map of Ambler River A-2 NE

About this map

The Schwatka Mountains dominate the northern landscape of this interior Alaskan region, their steep elevation contours indicating the dramatic transition from rugged heights to the river valley below. Carving a complex path through the southern half of the sheet, the Shungnak River exhibits a meandering pattern with numerous oxbows and marshy lowlands typical of the Arctic's high-latitude hydrology. This 2016 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents a nearly pristine wilderness within the Northwest Arctic borough, where the land remains defined by its natural watercourses and relief rather than human infrastructure. The mapping reveals a topographical divide between the high peaks and the braided river systems that shape the local ecosystem.