1974 Map of Cow Bone Island

About this map

The Seminole Indian Reservation occupies a significant portion of this southern Florida landscape, where the natural hydrology of the Big Cypress region is clearly visible through an orthophotomap perspective. This hybrid document combines aerial imagery with topographic data, revealing the intricate patterns of cypress strands like Tony Strand and Cow Bell Strand. The drainage and water management of the mid-1970s is evidenced by the prominent West Canal cutting through the terrain and the proximity of Lard Can Slough. Notable landforms such as Cow Bone Island rise above the surrounding wetlands, providing insight into the subtle elevation changes that dictate the area's ecology. Small-scale development, including a Radio Tower, appears as isolated markers within the expansive natural system, showing the early stages of infrastructure reaching into this corner of the Florida interior.