1966 Map of Lake Salve

About this map

Lake Salve lies at the heart of this intricate network of waterways in St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes. The landscape is dominated by the Lower Atchafalaya River and a labyrinth of tidal passages including Big Wax Bayou, Little Wax Bayou, and Cross Canal. This mid-century survey captures the region's heavy industrial footprint, specifically the Belle Isle Gas and Oil Field and numerous pipelines that cut across the marshes. Small rises in elevation are marked by local landmarks like Live Oak Hammock and Wetfoot Hammocks, which stand in contrast to the surrounding wetlands and open waters of Spanish Lake and Bateman Lake. The map reveals a specialized coast economy dependent on dredging and mineral extraction, noted by several oil wells and the strategic Shell Island Point at the river's mouth.