1962 Map of Meade River C-4

About this map

Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 dominates this Arctic landscape, where a dense network of thaw lakes and ponds defines the permafrost terrain. The Inaru River, also identified by its indigenous name Kuahrook River, meanders across the northern portion of the sheet, reflecting the hydrologic complexity of the North Slope before extensive modern development. A lone Winter Trail provides the only evidence of overland passage through the tundra, likely utilized for seasonal transport when the ground was frozen. In the southern reaches, Kucheak Creek feeds into the intricate water system, illustrating the primitive state of the region's geography as documented by the Army Map Service in the mid-1950s. This survey captures a moment when government resource interests and traditional pathways intersected in the Alaskan wilderness.