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1973 Map of Blakely Island

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Blakely Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

Blakely Island serves as the central hub of this archipelago survey, dominated by the heights of Blakely Peak and the interior waters of Horseshoe Lake and Spencer Lake. The map details a maritime landscape defined by narrow channels like Obstruction Pass and Peavine Pass, which separate the primary islands. Settlement patterns are concentrated at small outposts such as Olga on Orcas Island and the community of Decatur on Decatur Island, reflecting the isolated, water-dependent character of the San Juan Islands in the early 1970s.

Conservation areas and navigational aids are prominent, including the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge and the Leo Reef Light. The presence of several landing strips and various cable areas crossing the sounds highlights the essential infrastructure required to connect these landmasses before more modern developments. From the ferry route crossing Thatcher Pass to the coastal features of Lopez Island, the map records a specific era of island life before significant modern expansion.