1955 Map of Shungnak D-6

About this map

The Waring Mountains dominate the northern landscape of this mid-century survey, rising above a vast network of wetlands and tundra drainage. This 1955 aerial-photogrammetric study reveals a wilderness devoid of roads or trails, where the land is defined by the shifting paths of Kavel Creek and the meandering Kuchuk Creek. The map serves as a primary record of the terrain along the Kateel River Meridian, marking high points like Vabm 1265 Sandview and Vabm 425 Nulv. These triangulation stations represent the early efforts of the Geological Survey to systematically plot this remote Alaskan interior. The drainage patterns of Niaktuvik Creek flowing into the lower marshlands illustrate a landscape largely shaped by seasonal water movement and the physical barrier of the northern range.