1955 Map of Meade River A-5

About this map

The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska dominates this 1955 survey of the North Slope, revealing a landscape defined by its remote industrial and transport corridors. The map records a critical era of Arctic exploration, tracing the Winter Trail and several instances of the Tractor Trail crossing the tundra. These routes were essential for seasonal movement across the frozen terrain before more permanent infrastructure existed. In the southern portion of the quadrangle, the Avalik River and its tributary, Avalitkok Creek, meander through a dense network of lakes and marshes. Named topographic points such as Lambda, Kappa, and Gamma appear as distinct markers in an otherwise largely uniform landscape, likely serving as vital survey stations or navigation landmarks for the Army Map Service and other agencies operating in the North Slope Borough.