2015 Map of Selawik C-1 SE

About this map

The Selawik River meanders extensively through this low-lying Arctic landscape, creating a complex network of oxbow lakes, sloughs, and marshy wetlands typical of the region's inland drainage basins. This 2015 U.S. Geological Survey representation of the Northwest Arctic highlights the intersection of the main river channel with the Kugarak River, which enters from the northeast. The terrain is characterized by a nearly flat elevation profile, where the waterways constantly shift their paths over time, leaving behind a scarred landscape of former riverbeds and seasonal ponds. As a record of hydrological patterns before further modern climatic shifts, the map documents the exact positioning of these vital water routes used for subsistence and travel in the Alaskan bush.