1955 Map of Teshekpuk A-3

About this map

Ikpikpuk River winds through the lake-strewn plains of the North Slope in this 1955 survey, showing a landscape defined by water and permafrost. The entire region is contained within Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4, reflecting the strategic federal interest in the Arctic during the mid-20th century. While the terrain is dominated by unnamed tundra lakes and marshes, the presence of a Tractor Trail cutting through the eastern portion of the quadrangle suggests the early mechanized routes used for exploration and logistics in this remote environment. Aside from a single identified Mound, the map reveals a land largely devoid of permanent settlements, focused instead on the natural hydrology and the predetermined survey lines established by the Bureau of Land Management.