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2015 Map of Big Lake

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of Big Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

Big Lake dominates the oxbow landscape of Holt County, Missouri, where the state line meets Nebraska along the shifting Missouri River. This survey captures a terrain defined by its hydrological history, showcasing the abandoned paths of the Old Channel Tarkio River and Old Channel Little Tarkio Cr as they meander through the Missouri bottomlands. The area is a vital corridor for migratory birds, evidenced by named wetlands like Mallard Marsh, Pintail Pool, and Snow Goose Pool.

Settlement patterns follow the high ground and section lines, with the villages of Bigelow, Fortescue, and Napier serving as rural hubs. The southwestern portion of the sheet highlights the complex geography of the Nemaha Bends and Squaw Bend, where the river's historical movements have left behind a series of distinct loops and sloughs. This map is essential for understanding the environmental and agricultural layout of this corner of Missouri prior to further modern channelization or development.