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1957 Map of Selawik

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Selawik
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Selawik Lake dominates this Arctic landscape, serving as a hydrological hub where the Selawik River and several complex channel systems like the Mukuksok Channel converge. To the north, the Melvin Native Reservation spans a network of wetlands and river bends along the Kobuk River, where the settlements of Noorvik and Kiana are established. The map illustrates a mid-century reliance on riverine and coastal transport, highlighted by the Arctic Landing Area and several remote shelters such as the Riley Channel Shelter Cabin.

Coastal features are particularly detailed, including the Baldwin Peninsula and the protected waters of Eschscholtz Bay. Historically significant sites like the Reindeer Station and the Chamisso Nat Wildlife Refuge appear alongside geographical landmarks like Church Rock and Elephant Point. This 1950s survey documents a region defined by its vast water bodies, including Inland Lake and Tuklomarak Lake, before significant modern development altered the remote character of these native lands and waterways.