1955 Map of Selawik D-1

About this map

The Waring Mountains dominate the northern half of this mid-century survey, providing a sharp contrast to the saturated wetlands that define the lower landscape. This 1955 photogrammetric study captures a wilderness in transition, where high ridges overlook an intricate network of lakes and tundra. The Nukeargowik River and Ikagoak River serve as primary drainage systems, winding through a complex of unnamed water bodies in the southern flats. The transition from the high elevations of the Waring range to the river-fed lowlands illustrates the geological drainage patterns of the Northwest Arctic region, reflecting an era when large sections of the territory remained unsurveyed and unmarked on the ground by the Bureau of Land Management.