1950 Map of Kotzebue A-2

About this map

The coastal village of Deering serves as the focal point for this coastal survey of the Seward Peninsula’s northern edge. Situated at the mouth of the Inmachuk River where it meets Kotzebue Sound, the settlement is flanked by Cape Deceit and a local Landing Strip, illustrating the importance of maritime and air access in this subarctic environment. To the east, the landscape opens into the expansive Kugruk Lagoon, a significant geographic feature of the coastline. The map, based on aerial photography from 1949 and 1950, details the intricate drainage patterns of Smith Creek and the surrounding marshy lowlands. This survey captures a specific moment in the mid-century development of Northwest Alaska, documenting the intersection of indigenous settlement and early modern aviation infrastructure.