1965 Map of Chesser Island

About this map

Okefenokee Swamp dominates this experimental photomap, revealing the intricate water and land patterns of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in the mid-1960s. The landscape is a complex mosaic of open water and submerged swamp, where larger landmasses like Chesser Island and Hog Island rise above the surrounding wetlands. This specific survey was developed using 1965 aerial photography, providing a precise look at the drainage and vegetation structures before later environmental changes. Navigation through the marsh is marked by the Suwanee Canal and various named passages such as Goose House Gap. Scattered throughout the watery prairies are small islands and named lakes, including Buzzard Roost Lake and Monkey Lake, while the eastern edge is defined by the raised ground of the Ridge. The map documents the boundary between Ware Co and Charlton Co as it cuts through the heart of Chesser Prairie.