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1955 Map of Wainwright A-6 and A-7

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Wainwright A-6 and A-7
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Kasegaluk Lagoon dominates this Arctic coastal landscape, separated from the open Chukchi Sea by a thin, protective barrier of sand and mud. Recorded in the mid-1950s, the map documents a remote stretch of the North Slope where the Utukok River and Avak River empty into the sheltered waters of the lagoon. The geography here is a complex network of thaw lakes and braided river channels, reflecting the dynamic permafrost environment near Icy Cape.

Cultural indicators are sparse but significant for local history, most notably the site of Tolageak (Abandoned) located along the inner coast. Several geodetic or navigational landmarks like Utukok NW Base, Utukok SE Base, and Euclid suggest the presence of surveying and military operations in the region during the Cold War era. Maritime access is defined by the narrow Utukok Pass, a vital break in the barrier islands that allowed transit between the sea and the coastal inlet system.