1955 Map of Teshekpuk B-3

About this map

The Ikpikpuk River defines the western edge of this vast Arctic landscape on the North Slope, where the terrain is dominated by a dense network of lakes and thaw ponds. This 1955 survey illustrates the remote character of Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, an area set aside for its potential energy resources. The map captures a moment when human presence was extremely sparse, evidenced by the single Tractor Trail cutting through the northeast corner. Because the land lines shown represent unsurveyed and unmarked locations predetermined by the Bureau of Land Management, the map serves as a primary record of the natural hydrology and drainage patterns before further modern exploration. It is a critical document for understanding the physical state of the Alaskan tundra during the mid-twentieth century.