1953 Map of Central Isles Dernieres

About this map

Isles Dernieres stretches across the southern reach of this coastal survey, forming a thin, fragile barrier between the Gulf of Mexico and the inner marshlands. The landscape is defined by the transition from open water to complex estuarine systems, where massive basins like Pelican Lake and Lake Pelto are segmented by narrow channels and tidal inlets. The dynamic nature of the Terrebonne Parish coast is evident in the Coupe Nouvelle and the prominent Whiskey Pass separating the mainland marsh from Whiskey Island. While largely dominated by water and wetlands, the map records industrial footprints such as a lone Oil Well in the open Gulf and a Light marking the northern approach to the islands. This 1950s record, updated with 1978 aerial revisions, documents a coastline in constant flux, showing the intricate network of bayous including Pelican Bayou and Big Misale Bayou before decades of further erosion.