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1955 Map of Teshekpuk C-5

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Teshekpuk C-5
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 encompasses this entire expanse of Arctic tundra during the mid-1950s, characterized by a dense network of thaw lakes and meandering water systems. Exploration for energy resources is the primary human footprint on this landscape, anchored by the Topagoruk Test Well No 1 and an associated Camp. These remote outposts and transient settlements like Gotuk and Libby were linked by a series of seasonal routes, including a Tractor Trail and Winter Trail, which were essential for navigating the permafrost terrain before permanent infrastructure existed.

The hydrology is dominated by the Topagoruk River in the west and the Chipp River in the east. Scattered throughout the quadrangle are small structures marked simply as Cabin and Cabins, suggesting the presence of subsistence activities or survey parties in this isolated environment. This survey provides a baseline of industrial and subsistence activity on the North Slope before the later developments of the 20th century.