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1966 Map of Belle Isle

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Belle Isle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Belle Isle rises above the surrounding marshlands of St. Mary Parish in this mid-1960s survey, marking a distinct geological and industrial focal point where the wetlands meet Atchafalaya Bay. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of navigable waterways, including the broad Wax Lake Outlet and the meandering Hog Bayou. This era of the Louisiana coast is characterized by significant energy infrastructure, evidenced by the Hog Bayou Gas and Oil Field and the Big Wax Gas and Oil Field, with pipelines and platforms interspersed among natural features like Negro Hammock and Fivemile Oaks.

Hydrological patterns are captured in detail, showing the complex interplay between Wax Lake Pass and smaller channels like Little Doctors Bayou. From Leopard Point to the sheltered Belle Isle Lake, the map provides a precise record of the shoreline and salt dome topography before decades of coastal change. This document serves as a critical resource for understanding the mid-century industrial footprint on this specific stretch of the Gulf Coast.