1962 Map of Beechey Point B-1

About this map

The Beaufort Sea coast of Alaska's North Slope is documented here as it appeared in the mid-1950s, focusing on the barrier island chains that buffer the mainland from the Arctic. This hydrographic study, compiled by the Army Map Service using data from the Usc&GS, provides a specialized look at the shoals and depths surrounding the McClure Islands and the Stockton Islands. Individual landforms like Narwhal Island, Jeanette Island, and Pole Island are mapped alongside sounding measurements in fathoms, revealing the complex underwater topography of Foggy Island Bay. The map also defines the Newport Entrance, a critical passage for vessels navigating these northern waters. As a record of the shoreline before the major industrial shifts on the North Slope, it preserves the exact position of these migratory gravel islands and the navigable channels between them.