1977 Map of Lake Drummond

About this map

Lake Drummond sits at the heart of this orthophotomap, surrounded by the dense, waterlogged forests of the Great Dismal Swamp. The 1970s landscape reveals an intricate hydrological network designed to manage the swamp's interior, including the historic Washington Ditch and Feeder Ditch. This era marks a significant conservation period, with boundaries clearly delineated for the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia and the Dismal Swamp State Park extending into North Carolina. Human presence is concentrated along the eastern edge, where the Dismal Swamp Highway skirts the wetlands. Settlements and stop-offs such as Wallaceton, Arbuckle Landing, and Angle Siding represent the thin margin of development against the wilderness. The use of aerial photography combined with topographic data highlights the stark contrast between the geometrically straight drainage canals like Cross Canal and the natural circularity of the lake.