1955 Map of Beechey Point C-4

About this map

The Jones Islands chain forms a protective barrier along the North Slope of Alaska, separating the open waters of the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean from the sheltered Simpson Lagoon. This mid-century survey reveals the precise coastal geography of the barrier islands, including Pingok Island, Bertoncini Island, Bodfish Island, and the elongated Cottle Island. The coastline is further defined by Kavearak Point, which extends into the lagoon from the mainland. The map reflects a remote and largely unsettled maritime environment, focused on the bathymetry and topography of these landforms before significant modern industrial development altered the human footprint on the North Slope. These hydrographic details were compiled from Coast and Geodetic Survey charts, offering a snapshot of this extreme northern landscape during the mid-1950s.