1955 Map of Beechey Point A-3

About this map

Sagavanirktok River dominates this Arctic landscape, its braided channels and vast floodplain recorded during a pivotal era of industrial development on the North Slope. The 1975 revisions highlight the emergence of Deadhorse as a critical infrastructure hub, supporting the early stages of petroleum exploration. This period is most notably marked by the presence of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (under construction), shown snaking through the tundra alongside the Deadhorse Airfield. The map reveals a complex hydrologic network of thermokarst lakes and smaller streams like the Putuligayuk River, providing a detailed look at the terrain before decades of further industrial expansion. Scattered oil wells across the landscape indicate the beginning of the region's transformation into a major energy-producing frontier, contrasting the stark geography of the Sagavanirktok (Main Channel) River with the arrival of heavy infrastructure.