2023 Map of Kedges Straits

About this map

Holland Island and Smith Island stand as fragile outposts where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Holland Straits and Tangier Sound. This modern topographic study reveals the intricate, water-dominated geography of the lower Eastern Shore, defined by low-lying marshes and a shifting coastline. The boundary between Dorchester County and Somerset County runs through the open water of the bay, cutting past Pry Island and Jones Island. The landscape is a network of named coves and guts, such as Sedgy Point Gut and Thomas Island Gut, which carve into the fragmented landmasses. Navigational landmarks like Solomons Lump and Musclehole Bar underscore the maritime character of the region, where the Manokin River flows into the straits. The map illustrates the dominance of marshland terrain, including the Old Ground Marsh, which dictates the sparse settlement patterns of these tidal islands.