1955 Map of Teshekpuk A-4

About this map

Oumalik River meanders through an immense network of thaw lakes and wetlands in this 1955 topographic study of the North Slope. The landscape is defined by thousands of oriented thermokarst lakes, most unnamed, which dominate the surface drainage within the Ikpikpuk River basin. At the time of this survey, the entire area was designated as part of Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4, reflecting the mid-century strategic interest in Arctic energy resources. Human presence is incredibly sparse, marked only by a long Tractor Trail that cuts across the southern portion of the quadrangle. This trail represents the primary method of overland transport during this era, when heavy machinery moved across the frozen tundra to support geological exploration and mapping efforts.