1955 Map of Utukok River A-5

About this map

The Kokolik River winds through this Arctic landscape, carving a deep valley through the northern Alaskan tundra. This 1955 survey highlights the prominent elevation of Archimedes Ridge, which stretches across the center of the sheet as a dominant geographical marker. The terrain reflects the remote character of the North Slope during the mid-20th century, a period defined by federal interest in resource management and exploration. The western portion of the map is significantly marked by the Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 Boundary (Indefinite), indicating the vast tracts of land set aside for national energy interests. With no roads or trails recorded, the map captures a wilderness purely shaped by its hydrological networks and topographical contours before any significant infrastructure reached this part of the Brooks Range foothills.