1955 Map of Harrison Bay B-4

About this map

The Harrison Bay coastline meets a complex network of thaw lakes and meandering waterways in this 1955 survey of Alaska's North Slope. The landscape is defined by the wandering paths of the Kalikpik River and Fish Creek, which snake through a tundra environment dominated by hundreds of unnamed water bodies. This specific area was of significant strategic and industrial interest during the mid-20th century, as it is situated entirely within Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4. A notable marker of early resource exploration is the Fish Creek Test Well No 1 (Site) located in the southeastern portion of the map. Movement across this saturated terrain was seasonal, indicated by the presence of a Winter Trail that cuts across the lakes, providing a glimpse into the logistics of Arctic surveying and energy prospecting before more permanent infrastructure arrived.