1955 Map of Teshekpuk A-5

About this map

The Topagoruk River meanders across this Arctic landscape, defining a region dominated by a dense network of thaw lakes and interconnected wetlands within the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4. Surveyed in the mid-1950s, the terrain is marked by the presence of a sprawling Tractor Trail system, indicating the heavy equipment routes used for early petroleum exploration and transport across the tundra. Small, uniquely named landmarks like Kris, Finis, Bob, and Rick provide specific points of reference in an otherwise uniform environment of water and permafrost. To the east, the Oumalik River and the waters of Ishuktak further illustrate the complex drainage patterns of the North Slope. This topographic study reflects a period of intensifying geographic interest in the far north, where remote surveyors identified specific locations such as Bend to navigate this vast, lake-filled interior.