1970 Map of Beechey Point A-4 NE

About this map

The Kuparuk River winds through this Arctic landscape, defining a complex network of braided channels and thaw lakes on Alaska's North Slope. This 1970 orthophotomap provides a literal photographic view of the tundra surface just as industrial interest in the region was intensifying. Evidence of early resource exploration is visible at the Placid Et Al State No. 1 site in the northeast corner, connected to the surrounding terrain by a precarious Winter Trail. The surface is dominated by a dense concentration of water bodies, including the Putuligayuk River and specific landmarks like Hurl and Fresh. The map's photographic base captures the delicate, water-logged geometry of the permafrost, where land and water are inextricably linked.