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1955 Map of Shungnak D-4

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Shungnak D-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Sheklukshuk Range dominates the southern landscape of this mid-century Alaskan interior survey, providing a stark topographical contrast to the expansive, water-filled lowlands to the north. Waterways define the region's geography, with the winding Kobuk River and Kogoluktuk River carving through the terrain alongside the smaller Black River and Black Creek. These drainages create a complex network of marshes and small lakes characteristic of the northern wilderness before modern infrastructure.

Evidence of human activity is sparse, marked primarily by isolated cabins located near the riverbanks and the slopes of Shaleruckik Mountain. These structures, along with survey markers like VABM Buck 2109 and VABM Long 718, hint at the seasonal trapping, hunting, and surveying efforts that took place in this remote environment. The presence of Kerchurak Creek and other named tributaries illustrates how early residents and surveyors relied on specific watercourses for navigation and survival in the roadless interior.