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1956 Map of Sagavanirktok

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Sagavanirktok
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Franklin Bluffs stands as a prominent landmark along the braided channel of the Sagavanirktok River in this mid-century mapping of Alaska's North Slope. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of waterways, including the Kuparuk River and Toolik River, winding through the White Hills. This era precedes the major industrial transformations of the region, showing the Arctic coastal plain in a raw state of transit where movement was dictated by the Tractor Trail and a Winter Trail.

The presence of a Pingo and features like Cache One Lake reflect the unique permafrost geology and early exploratory markers of the territory. Large river systems such as the Ivishak River and Kavik River dominate the drainage patterns, providing a look at the hydrology before modern development. Researchers can trace the early overland routes that linked these remote river valleys across the tundra.