1960 Map of Beechey Point

About this map

The Sagavanirktok River and Kuparuk River dominate this coastal landscape of the North Slope during a period of transformative industrial development. While much of the terrain remains an intricate network of lakes and tundra streams, the emergence of Deadhorse and a Pumping station near Prudhoe Bay signals the early infrastructure of the Alaskan oil era. A Pipeline (Under construction) is shown snaking south from the coast, crossing the various forks of the Sagavanirktok. Along the shoreline, geographic features like Beechey Point and Milne Point anchor a complex system of lagoons and barrier islands, including the Jones Islands and Return Islands. Numerous Cabins are scattered across the coast, from Simpson Lagoon to Foggy Island, reflecting the sparse human presence in this remote Arctic environment before large-scale operations fully reshaped the region.