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1971 Map of Chesapeake Channel

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Chesapeake Channel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel serves as a massive engineering feat crossing the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, as depicted in this hydrographic and topographic study. The map provides a detailed look at the complex underwater topography where the Atlantic meets the bay, highlighting the critical Chesapeake Channel and the North Channel. These deep-water paths are flanked by significant shallow hazards, including Inner Middle Ground, Middle Ground, and Nine Foot Shoal.

Bathymetric data compiled by the National Ocean Service reveals the shifting sands and seabed contours that define this maritime corridor. The map captures the 1970s alignment of the bridge-tunnel system before subsequent expansions, offering a look at the navigation routes and shoreline configurations that have historically dictated ship traffic into the Virginia capes and the greater harbor areas.