1955 Map of Utukok River D-5

About this map

The Utukok River dominates this Arctic landscape, winding through a complex network of thaw lakes and wetlands on Alaska's North Slope. Mapped by the Army Map Service during the mid-1950s, the terrain is defined by its water-saturated tundra and a series of oxbow lakes left behind by the river's shifting path. The northern edge of the map features the Avak River, while the western portion is marked by the Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 Boundary, reflecting the strategic importance of this region's resources during the Cold War. Movement across this trackless wilderness is limited to a solitary Trail and a Tractor Trail in the northeast, highlighting the extreme isolation and the specific methods of transport required to navigate the permafrost environment before more permanent infrastructure existed.