1951 Map of Selawik D-6

About this map

The Kobuk River Delta dominates this 1951 aerial study, revealing a complex labyrinth of shifting watercourses and tundra lakes on the edge of Hotham Inlet. This landscape, mapped by the Army Map Service, shows the intricate branching of the Riley Channel as it weaves through the low-lying wetland terrain. The map records a solitary Cabin along the southern banks, a vital marker of human presence in an environment defined by seasonal ice and river flow. Land navigation is guided by triangulation stations such as VABM 135 Center and VABM 15 Riley, which provide the only fixed points of elevation in a region characterized by its ever-changing silt and water patterns. This survey captures the delta's configuration before modern shifts in Arctic hydrology altered these traditional drainage paths.