1956 Map of Howard Pass

About this map

Howard Pass serves as a critical geographic waypoint in this mid-century survey of the Arctic wilderness, where the Brooks Range meets the vast drainage basins of the North Slope. The area is dominated by the Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4, a massive federal designation reflecting the era's strategic focus on energy resources. Significant water bodies like Feniak Lake and Desperation Lake punctuate a landscape defined by the headwaters of the Colville River and the Noatak River. Topographic detail reveals the complex terrain of the De Long Mountains and distinctive features such as The Cockscomb and Rim Butte. The map also documents the convergence of the Umiat Meridian Kateel River Meridian, marking a precise moment in the systematic mapping of the Alaskan interior using photogrammetric methods from the 1950s.