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1955 Map of Meade River

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Meade River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 dominates the landscape of this mid-century survey, reflecting the era's focus on Arctic resource exploration. The map highlights the Meade Test Well No 1, a significant marker of early oil prospecting in the region. To the north, the Chukchi Sea coastline is intricately detailed with features like Pt Franklin, the Seahorse Islands, and the expansive Peard Bay. The hydrographic network is dense, defined by the winding course of the Meade River and its numerous tributaries, including the Inaru River and Okpiksak River.

Surface travel across this water-rich terrain was facilitated by the Winter Trail, which connects the small settlement of Niklavik to the broader coastal and inland reaches. This map documents a period when northern Alaska was being systematically mapped for both strategic and industrial purposes, capturing the location of remote camps and exploration sites like the Tachinisok Inlet before further modern developments altered the region's accessibility.