1955 Map of Umiat D-1

About this map

Kachemach River winds through this North Slope landscape as it appeared in the mid-1950s, during a period of extensive photogrammetric mapping by the Geological Survey and the Defense Mapping Agency. The terrain is characterized by a dense network of thaw lakes and thermokarst depressions, illustrating the complex hydrological patterns of the Alaskan tundra before significant modern infrastructure reached this part of the borough. The absence of roads or trails throughout the entire quadrangle emphasizes the isolation of the region during this era of exploration. While primarily a topographic study of drainage and elevation, the map provides a foundational view of the native environment as documented by early aerial photography and field annotations, preserving the state of the watershed and permafrost features for environmental and geographical research.