1955 Map of Teshekpuk A-2

About this map

The Arctic coastal plain within Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 is defined by a dense mosaic of thaw lakes and ponds as it appeared in the mid-1950s. This land, mapped by the Army Map Service using photogrammetric methods from 1955 aerial photography, shows a landscape nearly devoid of permanent human structures, yet marked by the ephemeral tracks of a Tractor Trail winding through the tundra. These trails were critical arteries for exploration and transport across the permafrost, connecting isolated terrain features such as Bess, Gisk, and Flo. The map records a moment before significant modern industrial footprint, where the primary infrastructure consisted of these overland routes and the natural drainage patterns of the North Slope.