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1979 Map of Altamaha Sound

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Altamaha Sound
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area dominates this coastal survey, preserving a complex network of barrier islands and salt marshes where the Altamaha River meets the Atlantic Ocean. This orthophotomap combines traditional topographic detail with aerial photography, revealing the intricate tidal hydrology of the Intracoastal Waterway as it snakes through Buttermilk Sound and past Rockdedundy Island.

The transition from the mainland to the sea is marked by prominent landmarks like Cannons Point and Butler Point on the northern tip of St Simons Island. Across the waters of Altamaha Sound, the map details dynamic coastal features such as Wolf Island Spit and Beacon Beach, where terrain is noted as subject to frequent change. Smaller landforms like Egg Island and Darbo Island are positioned within the Altamaha State Waterfowl Management Area, highlighting the region's importance for conservation during the mid-1970s.