1953 Map of Eastern Isles Dernieres

About this map

The Isles Dernieres barrier islands stretch across this coastal survey, shielding the interior marshes of Terrebonne Parish from the Gulf of Mexico. Originally mapped in the early 1950s and updated with 1978 aerial photography, the map documents a fragile coastal landscape shaped by shifting tides and petroleum exploration. Significant industrial activity is evident in the Oil Field located in Lake Pelto, where a Radio Mast and Dolphins mark offshore infrastructure. The complex hydrology of the area is defined by numerous waterways including Wine Island Pass, Trinity Bayou, and Pass la Poule, which facilitate movement between the gulf and the sheltered waters of Terrebonne Bay. This record of the island chain's eastern reach provides a critical look at the geography of the Louisiana coast during a period of expanding energy development and environmental change.