1971 Map of Umiat B-1

About this map

The Kuparuk River and Itkillik River dominate this 1970s landscape of the North Slope, revealing a terrain defined by seasonal movement and remote access. While the land remained largely unsurveyed and unmarked by the Bureau of Land Management at the time of this study, human activity is etched into the landscape through a network of specialized transportation routes. A Winter Road and Winter Trail crisscross the tundra, reflecting the necessity of frozen ground for overland travel in this region. The inclusion of a Landing Strip near the river bank suggests the importance of bush aviation for supply and survey work. This map records the Arctic prior to the full expansion of modern permanent infrastructure, where passage was dictated by the river systems and the seasonal shift between marsh and ice.