1955 Map of Meade River C-1

About this map

The Meade River snakes through the northern reaches of the Arctic coastal plain, anchoring a landscape defined by an immense network of thaw lakes and wetlands. Within the vast boundaries of Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, the terrain is marked by the Okpiksak River and its numerous unnamed tributaries. This mid-1950s survey documents a period of early exploration and mobility in the remote north, where the lack of permanent roads is compensated for by a primitive overland network. Long stretches of Tractor Trail and smaller Trail segments cross the tundra, likely utilized for seasonal transport and resource assessment. The orientation of the elongated lakes across the sheet reflects the influence of prevailing winds on the permafrost, creating a distinct geomorphological pattern characteristic of this specific region of the North Slope.