1983 Map of Arctic D-3

About this map

The Continental Divide cuts through this high-latitude terrain of the North Slope, separating the drainage systems of the eastern Brooks Range. This 1983 provisional survey highlights the protected status of the land within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Arctic Wildlife Refuge Wilderness. Waterways like the Canning River, Red Sheep Creek, and Cane Creek serve as the primary landmarks in an area defined by elevation and its proximity to the Wilderness Boundary. The map's contour lines illustrate the stark vertical relief of the mountains before they descend toward the coastal plain. For researchers, this document captures the administrative and environmental state of this wilderness just as modern conservation boundaries were being formalized.