1971 Map of Arctic C-5

About this map

The Continental Divide traverses this remote portion of the Brooks Range, serving as the primary hydrological boundary for the North Slope. Surveyed by the U.S. Geological Survey using 1970 aerial photography, the landscape is defined by the headwaters of major arctic drainage systems. The Ivishak River carves through the northwestern terrain, while the Marsh Fork Canning River occupies the eastern valleys. This map captures a pristine wilderness before significant modern infrastructure reached these high latitudes, showing a complex network of unnamed ridges and drainages that feed into the Arctic Ocean. The lack of established trails or roads underscores the isolation of this terrain during the early 1970s, making it a critical record for understanding the natural topography of the Alaskan interior prior to later developments.