1955 Map of Point Lay A-2

About this map

The Kukpuk River winds through this remote arctic landscape, cutting a deep path as it flows past the prominent Amatusuk Hills. This 1955 topographic study, later published for civil use by the U.S. Geological Survey, captures the area during an era of intensive aerial photogrammetric mapping by the U.S. Army Topographic Command. To the south, the terrain descends into the Beaufort Basin, while smaller tributaries like Kuchiak Creek and Deadfall Creek drain the surrounding uplands. The map reveals a wild, unpeopled region defined entirely by its hydrology and relief, providing a clear record of the North Slope's natural drainage patterns before modern environmental changes.