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1955 Map of Meade River

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Meade River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 dominates this mid-century portrait of Alaska's North Slope, a landscape of intricate hydrological networks and coastal transition. The Arctic coastline stretches from Pt Franklin and the Seahorse Islands across Peard Bay to the prominent Skull Cliff. Inland, the terrain is characterized by a dense concentration of thaw lakes, such as Lake Itinik and Lake Tuvak, which feed meandering waterways like the Kugrua River and Inaru River.

Resource exploration is a visible theme, anchored by the Meade Test Well No 1 and a remote Landing Strip. Small human outposts, including Meade River and Niklavik, are connected by a seasonal Winter Trail, reflecting the isolation and logistical challenges of the era. The presence of Cabins near Tachinisok Inlet suggests the enduring importance of coastal access for subsistence and transit in this sub-arctic environment.