1953 Map of Cat Island Pass

About this map

Timbalier Island and Wine Island stand as vulnerable outposts against the Gulf of Mexico in this coastal survey. The map documents a volatile landscape where the barrier islands protect the inner waters of Terrebonne Bay. The presence of the Caillou Island Oil Field in the northeast and a lone Oil Well on the eastern edge of the quadrangle signify the intensive offshore petroleum activity of the mid-20th century. Navigational markers like Marker No 1, a Light, and the deep channel of Cat Island Pass itself serve as the only stationary landmarks in an environment of shifting sands and open water. This record is particularly valuable for tracking the dramatic morphological changes of the Louisiana coastline, as it incorporates revisions from 1978 and 1980 aerial photography over the original 1953 topography.