1986 Map of Hughes D-5

About this map

The Kobuk River flows through the southern reaches of this wilderness, a critical waterway for the region's hydrography and navigation. Much of the landscape is protected within the Gates Of The Artic National Preserve, a vast area defined by significant elevation changes from the valley floors to the heights of the Angayucham Mountains. The map reflects a landscape in the mid-1980s that remains largely roadless, with drainage patterns dictated by features like Beaver Creek and the isolated Lake Minakokosa. To the east, the Nilunorat Hills provide further topographical relief, while numerous smaller watercourses such as Akpelik Creek and Sulakpoatakuik Creek feed the larger river systems. This survey, compiled from aerial photography, captures the intricate network of wetlands and tributaries that define the interior of northwest Alaska.