2017 Map of Bettles D-2 NE

About this map

The Alaska Pipeline and the adjacent Dalton Highway cut through this remote interior Alaskan landscape, following a narrow transportation corridor in the southeastern corner of the quadrangle. This infrastructure is the primary human imprint on a terrain otherwise defined by its drainage systems. The South Fork Koyukuk River meanders across the northern sections, fed by tributaries including John R Cr and Eagle Cr. To the south, the Jim River and its feeder Sluice Cr move through a low-lying basin characterized by extensive wetlands. The contrast between the rigid, engineered line of the pipeline and the wandering paths of Hudson Brook and other natural waterways illustrates the intersection of industrial energy needs and subarctic hydrology during the early 21st century.