2024 Map of Barter Island A-4 SE

About this map

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge dominates this northern landscape where the coastal plain meets the icy waters of the Beaufort Sea. Along the dynamic shoreline, narrow landforms such as Tapkaurak Spit and Griffin Point buffer the mainland from the open ocean, creating protected waters like Oruktalik Lagoon. This 2024 survey documents a remote wilderness defined by shifting aquatic boundaries, from the Oruktalik Entrance to the braided paths of the Niguanak River. Inland, the terrain is a complex network of wetlands and tundra, drained by the John River and Pokok Creek. The absence of roads or permanent settlements emphasizes the preserved character of this North Slope environment, where the landscape remains dictated by natural hydrographic processes and seasonal change.