1955 Map of Harrison Bay

About this map

The Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 dominates this mid-century portrait of the Arctic coastline, a region defined by intricate hydrological networks and coastal transition zones. Along the Beaufort Sea at Harrison Bay, the landscape is a mosaic of thaw lakes and complex river deltas. The massive Teshekpuk Lake stands as a focal point in the west, while the eastern portion is shaped by the expansive delta of the Colville River, where it splits into the Kupigruak Channel, Nechelik Channel, and Tamayayak Channel. Evidence of early 20th-century commerce is found at the Esook Trading Post (Aban'd) near Cape Halkett, marking a point where terrestrial and maritime economies once met. The map also traces the interior reaches of the Fish Creek and Kogru River systems, highlighting the remote character of the North Slope before significant infrastructure developments.