1955 Map of Teshekpuk C-1

About this map

Teshekpuk Lake dominates this 1955 topographic survey, occupying the vast central portion of the map within the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4. The landscape is characterized by a complex network of thermokarst lakes and ponded water across the North Slope coastal plain, reflecting a permafrost environment where drainage is restricted. To the south, Kealik Creek meanders toward the larger lake body, cutting through low-lying tundra that remains largely devoid of permanent settlement or infrastructure during this period. A solitary Trail is indicated in the northeast, marking a rare human imprint on this remote arctic expanse. The survey reflects the early industrial and strategic interest in the region's petroleum potential, documented by the Army Map Service using photogrammetric methods from 1955 aerial photography.