1955 Map of Wainwright D-1

About this map

The Chukchi Sea coastline in the mid-1950s reveals a landscape of isolated seasonal settlements and sprawling wetlands between Peard Bay and Kugrua Bay. This Arctic environment, characterized by the low-lying reaches of the Igklo River and Kugrua River, is defined by its transition from the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge into the expansive National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Small outposts like Atanik and Pingasagruk sit along the narrow coastal barrier, while the inland terrain is a maze of lakes and marshes typical of the North Slope. A solitary Winter Trail provides the only mapped overland connection through the coastal refuge, tracing the edge of the sea. The map also identifies maritime hazards such as a Possible shoal (1955) near Eluksingiak Point, reflecting the ongoing challenges of Arctic navigation during this era of exploration.