2016 Map of Long Island

About this map

Matagorda Island and the complex barrier systems of the Texas Gulf Coast define this maritime landscape in the mid-2010s. The area is a labyrinth of shallow bays and tidal features, where the Intracoastal Waterway cuts a straight path for commercial traffic through Shoalwater Bay and past Long Island. Navigational hazards and local landmarks like Josephine Reef and Josephine Motte punctuate the transition from the sheltered waters of Espiritu Santo Bay to the open Gulf of Mexico. The map documents a fragile coastal environment of low-lying landforms, including the First Chain of Islands and various passes such as Steamboat Pass. This configuration of inlets and marshes reflects the ongoing geological processes of the Calhoun County shoreline, providing a precise look at the bay-and-barrier island geography used by coastal mariners and environmental researchers.