2020 Map of Harrison Bay B-5 NE

About this map

The low-lying Arctic coastal plain near the Beaufort Sea is defined by a dense mosaic of thaw lakes and ponds across the North Slope of Alaska. This 2020 map, based on 2009 SPOT satellite imagery and updated elevation data, illustrates the complex hydrography of the region. The landscape is organized by the Public Land Survey System, with the intersections of T13N R3W, T13N R2W, T12N R3W, and T12N R2W forming the primary geographic framework. This area is characterized by saturated wetlands and a dynamic water system that shifts with the seasonal freeze-thaw cycles of the permafrost, providing critical habitat for migratory birds and local wildlife. While devoid of named settlements or infrastructure, the map serves as a contemporary record of the shifting shoreline and lake boundaries in an environmentally sensitive part of the state.