1957 Map of Selawik

About this map

The Kobuk River Delta dominates this Arctic landscape, where a complex network of channels like the Melvin Channel and Riley Channel weave through the Native Reservation. Settlements like Noorvik and Kiana serve as the primary human hubs in this region of northwest Alaska, connected by a Winter Trail that cuts across the Kiana Hills. The map details the transition from the protected waters of Eschscholtz Bay and Chamisso Anchorage to the high elevations of the Waring Mountains and Selawik Hills. Researchers will find significant coastal landmarks such as Elephant Point and Church Rock, alongside numerous subsistence-related sites including the Reindeer Corral Cabin and Singauruk Shelter Cabin. This mid-century survey documents the precise hydrological relationship between the massive Selawik Lake and the nearby Inland Lake, illustrating a landscape defined by seasonal ice and ancient migration routes near the Arctic Circle.