2017 Map of Beechey Point B-4 NE

About this map

Gwydyr Bay dominates this coastal survey, where the Beaufort Sea meets the North Slope. The landscape is defined by a complex network of barrier islands and river deltas, including the Return Islands, Cottle Island, and Long Island which shield the inner waters from the open Arctic ocean. The drainage patterns of the Sakonowyak River and the Kuparak River illustrate a low-lying tundra environment characterized by hundreds of small thaw lakes and shifting aquatic channels. This area, marked by Back Point, showcases the delicate geomorphology of the Alaskan coastline in the early 21st century, providing a clear record of the relationship between these river systems and the protective island chains that define the bay's northern boundary.