1955 Map of Point Lay A-3 and A-4

About this map

Cape Beaufort anchors the coastline of this remote coastal survey, where the Chukchi Sea meets the northern Alaskan shore. The landscape is defined by the transition from the marine environment of Omalik Lagoon to the rising elevations of the Amatusuk Hills. Human presence in the mid-1950s was sparse, marked by essential survival and transit infrastructure such as a solitary Cabin and the Omalik settlement area. The region’s connectivity relied heavily on seasonal routes, specifically the Winter Trail and a Tractor Trail that navigate the tundra and coastal flats. A primitive Landing Strip near the coast provides evidence of the era's increasing reliance on bush aviation for logistics and access. Numerous drainage systems including Kuchiak Creek and Amatusuk Creek carve through the terrain, illustrating the complex hydrology of the permafrost landscape before modern developments reached this far north.