1955 Map of Wainwright C-1

About this map

Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 encompasses this entire Arctic expanse, which was mapped in the mid-1950s using photogrammetric methods from aerial photographs. The landscape is dominated by a complex network of thaw lakes and braided water systems, defined primarily by the Kugrua River flowing through the northeastern section and the wide reaches of the Kungok River to the south. Avgumun Creek meanders through the central northern tundra, while the feature known as Kolipsun stands as a rare named landmark in this otherwise sparse interior. These 1955 surveys by the Army Map Service record the hydrography of the North Slope during a period of federal exploration and energy evaluation, capturing the untouched state of the drainage basins before later industrial developments in the region.