1955 Map of Umiat C-4

About this map

The Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 dominates this Arctic landscape, mapped by the Army Map Service during the mid-1950s. This territory is characterized by a dense network of lakes and winding waterways, most notably the Kogosukruk River and its southern tributary, the Branch of Kogosukruk River. The presence of the Winter Trail and various stretches of Tractor Trail reflects the essential transport methods used for exploration and logistics in this permafrost environment, where permanent roads were non-existent. Smaller landmarks like Dogbone Lake and Heavy Creek provide specific points of reference for navigating the unsurveyed and unmarked locations predetermined by the Bureau of Land Management along the Umiat Meridian. The map captures a moment of early energy exploration when overland travel relied on seasonal trails across the North Slope.