1951 Map of Utukok River

About this map

The Naval Petroleum Reserve No 4 dominates this mid-century reconnaissance of Alaska’s North Slope, a landscape defined by the drainage basins of the Utukok River and Kokolik River. This map captures a region primarily utilized for federal resource exploration, where the terrain transitions from the coastal plains to the prominent Lookout Ridge in the south. The intricate hydrological network includes significant tributaries like Disappointment Creek, Carbon Creek, and the headwaters of the Colville River. Compiled from 1940s trimetrogon photography and original surveys, the document reflects the era's focus on strategic energy security and scientific mapping in the Arctic. The absence of permanent settlements and roads highlights the isolation of the territory during this period, leaving only the river systems and topographic features as the primary landmarks for navigation and study.