1955 Map of Teshekpuk

About this map

Teshekpuk Lake dominates the center of this coastal survey, where the Arctic landscape meets the Beaufort Sea. At the time of this 1955 survey, the region was characterized by the strategic and industrial presence of Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4, featuring the Simpson Test Well No 1 and numerous Oil Seeps near Cape Simpson. The map reveals a complex hydrologic network including the Topagoruk River and Ikpikpuk River carving through a terrain marked by winter and tractor trails. While human settlement was sparse, the Lonely Aerodrome and Pitt Point landing strips provided critical airborne access to this northern shoreline. The presence of the Admiralty Oil Stack and the noted Kolovik (Aband) settlement highlight the early post-war transition toward resource exploration and the shifting footprint of local habitations.