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1977 Map of Chatham

Name: 1977 Topographic Map of Chatham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Chatham and the surrounding coastline of Cape Cod are captured in this 1977 orthophotoquad, which utilizes aerial photography to reveal the intricate relationship between the land and the sea. The image clearly defines the shifting sands of Nauset Beach, a barrier that protects the inner harbors and settlements of Chatham Port and South Orleans from the open Atlantic Ocean.

The photograph provides a rare, unmediated view of the region's physical geography, from the southern reaches of Monomoy Island to the waters of Nantucket Sound. Unlike a traditional topographic map, this survey documents the exact density of coastal development and the precise contours of the tidal flats and shoals as they existed during the late 1970s. This serves as a vital record for researchers studying coastal erosion and the historical footprint of these maritime communities.