1959 Map of Deep Lake SW

About this map

Fakahatchee Strand and Picayune Strand dominate this section of the Florida Everglades, revealing a landscape defined by seasonal water and cypress systems during the mid-20th century. The presence of an Old Railroad Grade cutting horizontally across the terrain points to the earlier logging operations that once accessed these remote areas before they were preserved. The map is exceptionally detailed regarding named open spaces within the swamp, including locally identified spots like Pretty Island, Royal Palm Hammock, and Dan House Prairie. These named prairies, such as Starvation Prairie and Twelvemile Prairie, highlight the importance of slight elevation changes and vegetation patterns for navigation and historical land use in Collier County. Topographic data from 1959 is supplemented by 1973 aerial photography revisions, showing the precise boundaries of North Swan Prairie and Slate Prairie before modern environmental shifts.