2018 Map of Breton Islands

About this map

The Breton Islands emerge from the Gulf of Mexico in this 2018 survey of the southern tip of Plaquemines Parish. This map documents a dynamic coastal environment where small landmasses like Breton and North Point represent some of the final outposts of the Mississippi River Delta's barrier island system. The prominence of West Point and its neighboring shoals reflects the shifting nature of these landforms, which are crucial for coastal protection and migratory bird habitats. Because the area is dominated by open water and tidal flats, the map serves as a primary record of the islands' exact footprint at this moment in time, showing the fragile relationship between the delta and the sea.