1955 Map of Point Lay D-2

About this map

Point Lay serves as the focal point of this coastal survey, situated on the narrow barrier strip separating the Kasegaluk Lagoon from the Chukchi Sea. The landscape is defined by the shifting interface of water and land, where the Kokolik River winds through a complex delta of marsh and tundra before emptying into the protected lagoon. Access to the open sea is maintained through Akunik Pass, a critical break in the sand-heavy barrier islands. A small Landing Strip south of the primary settlement reflects the importance of aerial transport in this isolated Arctic environment during the mid-1950s. The topography inland remains largely unsurveyed, marked by numerous small lakes and the drainages of Tungak Creek and Niklavik Cr near Tungaich Point. This map captures a snapshot of the region's geography before significant modern development reached the North Slope.