2013 Map of Great Machipongo Inlet

About this map

Cobb Island stands at the edge of the Virginia coastline, marking a dynamic intersection of land and sea in the early 21st century. This chart records the shifting nautical landscape of Northampton County, where the Great Machipongo Inlet and Sand Shoal Inlet provide critical passages between the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the inner marshlands. The intricate waterway system is further defined by the North Channel and Second Channel, illustrating the natural scouring and sediment patterns typical of these barrier island environments. As a maritime record from 2013, it captures the exact configuration of these inlets and sandbars before the inevitable changes brought by coastal storms and tide cycles, serving as a baseline for researchers tracking the movement of Virginia's Eastern Shore barrier islands.