1955 Map of Wainwright D-1

About this map

Pingasagruk and Atanik stand as silent coastal markers on this mid-century survey of the North Slope, where the land meets the Chukchi Sea. The landscape is dominated by a complex network of lagoons and wetlands, including Kugrua Bay and Peard Bay, separated from the open sea by narrow barrier islands. A solitary Winter Trail tracks along the coastline, connecting these coastal points to the inland reaches of the Igklo River and Kugrua River. This 1955 survey provides a detailed look at the Arctic shoreline before modern infrastructure, capturing the coastal geography of Asiniak Point and the shifting waters around a Possible shoal. Much of this territory falls within the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, emphasizing its status as a managed wilderness at the height of the Cold War era.