1971 Map of Sagavanirktok B-3

About this map

The Sagavanirktok River valley is the focal point of this 1970s survey, documenting the early infrastructure of Alaska's North Slope during the energy boom. A defining element of the landscape is The Trans-Alaska Pipeline (Under Construction), shown as it was being integrated into the tundra alongside the river's eastern bank. This map captures the industrial character of the era with the Pumping Sta and the settlement at Sagwon, which served as critical staging grounds for petroleum development. Beyond these modern insertions, the terrain remains defined by the braided networks of the Ivishak River and Echooka River. The presence of a Winter Road and Winter Trail reflects the seasonal transportation realities of the Arctic, where permanent road networks were still in their infancy. Small topographic markers like Gard and Hak punctuate the vast wetland plains, providing essential navigation points in an otherwise repeating landscape of ponds and streams.