1955 Map of Beechey Point A-5

About this map

The Kuparuk River flows through this remote arctic landscape of the North Slope, appearing as it did in the mid-1950s when the region was documented primarily through photogrammetric methods. The hydrology of the area is defined by winding coastal plain waterways, including the Ugnuravik River and the Sakonowyak River, which meander through a dense network of tundra lakes and wetlands. These topographic features were mapped by the Army Map Service and published by the U.S. Geological Survey, capturing the drainage patterns of the Umiat Meridian before any significant industrial footprint. The map depicts a wilderness of unsurveyed land lines, reflecting the pre-development character of the Alaskan tundra where travel was restricted to the natural corridors provided by these river systems.