1971 Map of Umiat C-1

About this map

The Kuparuk River dominates this Arctic landscape, its meandering channels and oxbow lakes creating a complex hydrological network through the permafrost. The terrain is characterized by a high density of thaw lakes and marshes, interspersed with a distinct Pingo, a characteristic ice-cored mound that serves as a rare point of elevation in the wet tundra. A long-distance Winter Trail cuts across the northern and eastern sections of the quadrangle, indicating the seasonal movement patterns required in this environment before permanent road infrastructure. The map reflects a moment in 1970 when the Bureau of Land Management was predetermining land lines for these unsurveyed regions of the Umiat Meridian, capturing the raw state of the North Slope just as modern exploration began to intensify in the region.