1970 Map of Beechey Point B-4 NE

About this map

The Kuparuk River delta dominates this orthophotomap of Alaska's North Slope, showing the intricate network of channels and wetlands as they met the Beaufort Sea in 1970. This specific survey captures the early footprint of industrial activity in the region, notably marking the Kup River State No 1 site. The landscape is a complex coastal environment defined by Gwydyr Bay and a protective chain of barrier features including Long Island, Cottle Island, and the Return Islands. A solitary Winter Trail provides the only recorded land route across the marshy terrain near Back Point, illustrating the seasonal nature of transit in this Arctic environment before more permanent infrastructure was established. The map's photographic base provides an unusually clear view of the braided river mouths and the shifting sands of the northern coastline.