1955 Map of Meade River B-1

About this map

The Okpiksak River winds through this expanse of the North Slope, surrounded by a dense network of thaw lakes and ponds characteristic of the Arctic coastal plain. Photogrammetric methods from 1955 captured this landscape during a period of significant strategic interest, as the entire area falls within the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4. This designation reflects the era's focus on national energy security and exploration in the remote Alaskan interior. Transportation across this tundra environment was restricted to seasonal routes, evidenced by the Tractor Winter Trail and various Tractor Trails that provided the only overland access for surveyors and equipment during the mid-20th century. These ephemeral paths were essential for traversing the water-logged terrain before modern infrastructure reached the far north.