1955 Map of Barter Island A-5

About this map

Barter Island serves as the central focal point of this mid-1950s Arctic coastal survey, positioned where the Beaufort Sea meets a series of shallow lagoons. The settlement of Kaktovik is clearly established on the island's northern shore, accompanied by a nearby Landing Strip and a tower that signify the area's increasing strategic and logistical importance during this era. To the west, the former location of Elupak marks a historical point of human presence on the edge of Arey Lagoon. The landscape is defined by its dynamic water-to-land interface, featuring narrow barriers like Bernard Spit and deep indentations such as Bernard Harbor. Further inland, a Tractor Trail meanders through the marshy tundra toward the Okpilak River, illustrating the limited but vital overland transport routes used in this high-latitude environment before the proliferation of modern infrastructure.