1972 Map of Arctic A-4

About this map

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge dominates this sub-arctic terrain, capturing a landscape defined by glacial activity and high-latitude drainage patterns. Steep elevations like Misty Mountain and Smoke Mountain rise above the braided path of the East Fork Chandalar River in the southeast. The central portion of the map is defined by a dense network of seasonal wetlands and small lakes where Crow Nest Creek and Ottertail Creek converge. These water systems are confined by prominent landforms such as Ottertail Ridge and Crow Nest Rock, which provide significant topographic relief. Mapping this area required high-altitude photogrammetry, reflecting the immense logistical challenges of surveying the North Slope Borough during the early 1970s. The presence of the South Boundary Umiat Meridian illustrates the formal cadastral divisions used to manage this expansive wilderness.