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1956 Map of Sagavanirktok

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Sagavanirktok
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Sagavanirktok River and its expansive braiding dominate this 1950s landscape, illustrating a complex hydrological system flowing north toward the Arctic coast. The presence of the Tractor Trail and Winter Trail reveals the ephemeral nature of transportation in this region, where seasonal paths were often the only means of traversing the tundra. High ground is marked by the White Hills and Franklin Bluffs, which provide topographical contrast to the low-lying river basins.

Several remote surveying points, such as VABM 1317 White and VABM 761 Greta, anchor the map's triangulation network across a vast network of tributaries including the Kuparuk River and Toolik River. The confluence of the Ivishak River and Gilead Creek highlights the intricate drainage patterns that define the foothills of the Brooks Range, offering a detailed record of the geography before large-scale industrial development arrived on the North Slope.