1955 Map of Selawik D-2

About this map

The Waring Mountains dominate this 1955 survey of the Northwest Arctic, where the ridgelines rise between the massive Kobuk River to the north and the expansive wetlands of the south. This remote landscape is defined by its drainage patterns, with Elagantuk Creek cutting through the peaks while the Fish River and Ikagoak River meander through the southern lowlands. These watercourses were historically vital for seasonal travel and subsistence in an area where the map indicates no established roads or trails. Several high points are marked by survey monuments, including VABM 1759 Elwood and VABM 1364 Sam, providing fixed points of reference in an otherwise fluid environment of shifting river channels and seasonal swamps. This 1955 topography, which saw minor revisions in 1981, captures the wilderness character of the region before modern infrastructure development.