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1955 Map of Harrison Bay

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Harrison Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Harrison Bay and the northern coastline of the North Slope Borough are shown here as they appeared during a period of transition in the mid-20th century. The landscape is dominated by the intricate hydrology of the Colville River delta and the vast expanse of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. This map records the early industrial footprint on the tundra, specifically the emergence of the Kuparuk Oil Field in the east and scattered Oil Wells farther north.

Evidence of traditional and early commercial activity remains visible at the Eskimo Trading Post near Pogik Bay and the Eskimo Islands. The coastal geography is highly detailed, featuring landmarks such as Cape Halkett and the delta's many distributaries including the Kupigruak Channel and Nigliq Channel. Away from the coast, the interior is a maze of thermokarst features and meandering waterways like Fish Creek and the Kogru River flowing toward the Beaufort Sea.