1985 Map of Ikpikpuk River C-3

About this map

Koluktak Lakes dominate this Arctic landscape, forming an intricate network of water bodies across the tundra of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The terrain is defined by low relief and expansive wetlands, where the Ikpikpuk River and Fry Creek meander through unsurveyed land lines. A single Tractor Trail provides a rare trace of human passage through this remote northern environment. This 1985 edition, based on aerial photography from the early 1970s, captures the region's hydrography before modern climate shifts began significantly altering permafrost and lake levels. The map highlights the vast, interconnected nature of the North Slope's aquatic systems, where land and water blur into a complex mosaic of thaw lakes and small stream drainages.