1971 Map of Sagavanirktok A-2

About this map

The Ivishak River dominates this Arctic landscape, carving a wide braided path through the North Slope as it flowed in the early 1970s. This survey, compiled from aerial photographs taken in 1970, reveals a territory defined entirely by its hydrological patterns rather than human infrastructure. The drainage system is anchored by the Saviukviayak River and smaller tributaries like Gilead Creek and Flood Creek. While the margin notes that land lines represent predetermined locations by the Bureau of Land Management, the map itself contains no roads or trails, illustrating the profound isolation of this region prior to extensive development. The shifting channels and gravel bars of the main river valley provide a clear picture of the natural alluvial processes at work in this part of the Alaskan interior.