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1950 Map of Shishmaref A-3

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Shishmaref A-3
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Sarichef Island sits at the northern edge of this coastal survey, serving as a barrier between the Chukchi Sea and the expansive Arctic Lagoon. The map, produced from aerial photographs taken in 1949 and 1950, documents a remote landscape where transportation relied heavily on seasonal routes like the Winter Trail (Approximate). This trail skirts the shoreline of the lagoon and Shishmaref Inlet, providing a vital link across the frozen tundra and coastal ice during the winter months.

Beyond the coastline, the terrain is defined by a dense network of small lakes and seasonal drainage, including Tin Creek. The presence of several survey markers, such as VABM Bobb and VABM Astro A2, indicates the technical efforts to map this portion of the Seward Peninsula. A designated Landing Area on Sarichef Island highlights the early importance of bush aviation for accessing these isolated coastal reaches of Northwest Alaska.