1985 Map of Selawik A-1

About this map

The Selawik National Wildlife Refuge dominates this sub-arctic landscape, providing a detailed record of the wetlands and topography as they existed in the mid-1980s. Defined by a complex network of thermokarst lakes and meandering waterways, the region's hydrology is centered on the serpentine course of the Tagagawik River, which winds through the eastern portion of the quadrangle. Compiled from 1971 aerial photography, the map documents a transition between the elevated contours of the interior and the lower marshlands typical of the Selawik Basin. The lack of any marked roads or permanent settlements emphasizes the character of this protected wilderness, where the shifting river channels and seasonal water bodies dictate the movement of people and wildlife in the Northwest Arctic.