1950 Map of Shishmaref B-2

About this map

The Arctic Ocean and Chukchi Sea define the northern and western reaches of this coastal landscape on the Seward Peninsula, as recorded by the Army Map Service in 1950. The survey centers on the expansive Shishmaref Inlet, a complex system of shallow lagoons and wetlands protected by narrow barrier spits. This area is characterized by a dense network of tundra ponds and small lakes, reflecting the permafrost-driven hydrology of the region. Distinctive survey markers, including VABM Narrow, VABM West Bar, and VABM Chance, provide fixed reference points along the shifting shoreline. The absence of roads or trails highlights the isolation of this maritime environment, where the land and sea meet in a fragile, ever-changing boundary typical of the Alaskan coast during the mid-twentieth century.