1933 Map of Karankawa Lake

About this map

Galveston Island stretches across the lower portion of this coastal survey, separating the open Gulf of Mexico from the shallow reaches of West Bay. Surveyed in the late 1920s, the map highlights the intricate shoreline and marshy transition zones between land and sea. This edition was compiled in part from early aerial photographs taken by the Air Corps, showing the complex hydrology of Karankawa Lake and Karankawa Bayou near the northern shoreline. The boundary between Galveston and Brazoria counties is clearly delineated as it cuts through the bay waters toward the mainland. Coastal features like Karankawa Point and the submerged Karankawa Reef illustrate the natural hazards and geography of the bay as they appeared before extensive modern dredging or development. To the east, the enclosed waters of Lake Como sit behind the protective barrier of the island beach.