1955 Map of Sagavanirktok D-3

About this map

Sagavanirktok River dominates the western portion of this Arctic landscape, its braided channels weaving a complex hydrological pattern across the North Slope. These intricate waterways contrast sharply with the prominent elevation of the Franklin Bluffs, which rise to the east. Compiled from 1955 aerial photography by the Army Map Service, the map documents a vast, unpopulated wilderness before the era of intensive resource development. The survey reveals the natural geological and hydrological state of the region, where numerous unnamed lakes and seasonal streams punctuate the terrain. The lack of roads or established settlements emphasizes the isolation of this tundra environment during the mid-twentieth century, providing a baseline for environmental and geographic study of the Alaskan North.