1955 Map of Harrison Bay C-3

About this map

The Harrison Bay coastline and the expansive waters of the Beaufort Sea dominate this Arctic coastal survey, captured during the mid-1950s. The landscape is defined by the shifting interface of land and ice, centered on the prominent Atigaru Point along the southern edge of the bay. This remote stretch of the North Slope was documented as part of the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, reflecting the era's strategic focus on northern resource potential and maritime reconnaissance. Shallow coastal waters are marked with numerous Mud flats and soundings, illustrating a complex, low-lying shoreline where traditional navigation was dictated by seasonal shifts. Mapping of this sub-arctic terrain relied on aerial photography and hydrographic data from the USC&GS, providing a window into the geography of the Alaskan coast before more modern infrastructure or industrial changes reached these latitudes.