1971 Map of Sagavanirktok A-1

About this map

The Echooka River flows through this remote section of the North Slope, revealing a landscape defined by shifting braided riverbeds and mountainous terrain. Surveyed in the early 1970s, the map captures a vast wilderness area before significant industrial development reached this specific reach of the Arctic. The Ivishak River enters the frame in the southwest, carving through the high country where topographic landmarks like Niviak Pass provide natural corridors through the peaks. Along the northern edge, Gilead Creek winds through the drainage basins, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Brooks Range foothills. This survey by the U.S. Geological Survey was based on 1970 aerial photography, providing a precise record of the land lines and watercourses as they existed in their primary state.