1956 Map of Howard Pass

About this map

The Colville River and its northern-flowing tributaries anchor this mid-century survey of the Arctic Slope, where the Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 encompasses a vast portion of the landscape. The terrain is defined by the high elevations of the Brooks Range and the Delong Mountains, transitioning into the foothills of the Howard Hills. In an era before modern infrastructure reached this far north, the map records a wilderness navigable primarily by its waterways, such as the Kiligwa River and Kuna River. Distinctive landmarks like The Cockscomb and Swayback Mountain provided essential orientation for early exploration and scientific study. Numerous glacial features, including Tukuto Lake and Liberator Lake, dot the valleys between ridges like the Lisburne Ridge, illustrating the complex drainage patterns of the high Arctic.