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1980 Map of Ilwaco

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Ilwaco
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The North Beach Peninsula serves as a narrow buffer between the Pacific and Willapa Bay, anchoring a landscape defined by its coastal settlements and maritime defenses. In this 1980 survey, the corridor from Ocean Park south to Ilwaco is meticulously detailed, showing the concentration of communities along the peninsula including Long Beach, Seaview, and Nahcotta. The map emphasizes the strategic mouth of the Columbia River, where Cape Disappointment and its namesake lighthouse overlook the treacherous waters of the bar.

Deep offshore bathymetry reveals the dramatic underwater topography of the Astoria Canyon, contrasting with the shallow waters of Baker Bay. Landward, the preservation of the coast is evident through the presence of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and historical military sites like Fort Canby State Park and Fort Stevens State Park. Small freshwater bodies such as Loomis Lake and Cranberry Lake dot the peninsula, illustrating the fragile hydrology of this coastal spit.