Loading map...

1960 Map of Beechey Point

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Beechey Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Sagavanirktok River and Kuparuk River flow northward across this Arctic landscape, draining into the Beaufort Sea during a period of transition for the North Slope. Compiled from 1950s data and updated in the mid-1970s, the map highlights the early infrastructure of the region's energy development, centered around the settlement at Deadhorse and the industrial hub at Prudhoe Bay. A prominent Pumping station sits near the riverbanks, marking the emergence of the trans-Alaska pipeline corridor.

Along the jagged coastline, numerous barrier islands and lagoons provide a detailed view of the coastal geography, including the Jones Islands, Return Islands, and the isolated Cross Island. Significant coastal landmarks like Oliktok Pt and Point McIntyre frame the shallow waters of Gwydyr Bay and Foggy Island Bay. The map captures the original site of Beechey Point and other remote points such as Tigvariak Island, reflecting the sparse but growing footprint of human activity in this coastal environment.