1955 Map of Beechey Point B-3

About this map

The coastal waters of the Beaufort Sea dominate this 1955 survey of the Arctic coastline, just years before large-scale industrial development would transform the region. The landscape is defined by the sweeping Prudhoe Bay and the intricate drainage of the Sagavanirktok River and Putuligayuk River as they meet the shoreline. A series of barrier formations, including the Return Islands, Midway Islands, and Stump Island, provide a buffer for Gwydyr Bay against the open sea. Inland, the terrain is a dense network of lakes and marshes, punctuated by few landmarks like the Prudhoe Mound. Evidence of early human presence is sparse but specific, with cabins noted near Point McIntyre and a remote Landing Strip near the delta, reflecting the seasonal and scientific activity characteristic of the North Slope in the mid-20th century.