1971 Map of Philip Smith Mountains D-5

About this map

Kuparuk River flows northward through a broad, braided drainage system at the heart of this North Slope survey, reflecting the hydrologic patterns of the Arctic landscape in the early 1970s. The terrain is characterized by expansive wetlands and low-relief marshy areas, interpreted by Usgs cartographers from 1970 aerial photography. While much of the quadrangle is defined by these water-saturated plains, higher elevations are marked by distinctive landmarks like Aruk and the prominent Imnavait Mountain in the southeast. Along the western edge, the Itkillik River winds through the tundra, illustrating the complex network of waterways that define this remote region of the Umiat Meridian. This map provides a technical record of the surface topography before significant modern infrastructure altered the area, capturing the natural state of the Alaskan interior's drainage basins and landform features.