1955 Map of Barrow A-1

About this map

Sinclair Lake and the marshy expanses of the North Slope dominate this mid-century Arctic landscape, captured during a period of early energy exploration within Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4. The map reveals a remote coastline defined by the Plover Islands chain, including Kulgurak Island and Tulimanik Island, which shelter the shallow waters of Fatigue Bay from the Beaufort Sea. Human presence is sparse but industrially significant, marked by the Simpson Test Well No 1 and a cluster of Test Wells No 13-24 near the coast. Movement across this delicate permafrost environment was dictated by a network of Tractor Trails and a designated Winter Trail, essential for navigating the terrain before permanent infrastructure. Evidence of earlier habitation or abandoned structures is noted simply as Ruins near the Sinclair River, while a remote Landing Strip provided the primary link to the outside world.