1971 Map of Breton Islands

About this map

The Breton National Wildlife Refuge dominates this coastal survey, preserving the fragile landforms of the Breton Islands at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. These low-lying sandy barriers, including North Point and West Point, are seen here just as they appeared in the early 1970s, shaped by the currents of the Breton Sound. An interesting industrial contrast exists on this sheet, where the natural habitat meets the energy infrastructure of the Gulf. Numerous Oil Well locations and a designated Oil Field pepper the surrounding waters, while a Radio Tower and another Tower near the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Canal mark the navigation and communication needs of the era. The orthophotomap style highlights the dynamic nature of these shifting shoals before decades of coastal erosion further altered their footprint.