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1951 Map of Point Lay

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Point Lay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The remote shoreline of the Chukchi Sea and Arctic Ocean defines this northern landscape, where the settlement of Point Lay sits along the protected Kasegaluk Lagoon. Mapped from photography taken between 1943 and 1947, the region shows a sparse human footprint centered on seasonal movement and coastal access, notably marked by a Winter Trail cutting across the tundra toward Cape Beaufort.

Inland, the terrain rises toward the Amatusuk Hills, drained by a series of significant river systems including the Kokolik River, Kukpowruk River, and Utukok River. The mapping of small encampments like Naokok and the identification of a specific Landing Area reflect the mid-century reliance on air and water transport in the Second Judicial Division. The intricate drainage patterns of the Epizetka River and Niklavik Creek illustrate the water-dominated geography of the North Slope before later modern developments.