2015 Map of Meade River D-1 NW

About this map

Inaru River meanders across this Arctic landscape, forming the primary drainage through a mosaic of thaw lakes and wetlands. The hydrology of the North Slope is the defining characteristic here, dominated by the elongated Ekalgruak Lake in the northeastern quadrant and the smaller Sisgravik Lake to the east. This 2015 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents the intricate water patterns of the Arctic coastal plain, where the lack of vertical relief creates a complex network of seasonal channels and permanent basins. The township and range lines of the Public Land Survey System, including t19n r18w and t18n r17w, provide the only geometric structure to this otherwise fluid terrain. This map serves as a vital record for understanding the natural water systems and remote geography of the Alaska North Slope Borough in the early 21st century.