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1959 Map of Barter Island

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Barter Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Barter Island and the neighboring coastal lagoons of the Beaufort Sea are captured here in the late 1950s, a period when this remote Arctic shoreline was undergoing survey for navigation and land management. The settlement of Kaktovik sits prominently on the island's northern edge, while nearby Elupak (Site) and various ruins suggest the older habitation patterns of the region. The landscape is defined by a complex network of spits and entrances, including Bernard Spit and the Kuvritovik Entrance, which protected the shallow waters of Arey Lagoon and Kaktovik Lagoon.

Inland, the frozen tundra is marked by a Tractor Trail winding through the permafrost, providing a rare terrestrial connection between the coast and the river deltas. The heavy influence of seasonal water flow is evident in the braiding of the Jago River and Niguanak River, which empty into the sea via the Jago Lagoon. This survey serves as an important record of the geographical names and infrastructure, such as the Landing Area, during the early years of the DEW Line era.