1972 Map of Madeira Bay

About this map

Taylor Slough drains through the heart of the southern Everglades National Park in this 1970s orthophotomap, revealing the complex interface between freshwater marshes and the mangrove-lined coast of Florida Bay. The landscape is dominated by an intricate network of coastal lagoons and internal water bodies, including Seven Palm Lake, Middle Lake, and Monroe Lake, which are separated by narrow ribbons of vegetation and mudflats. This survey, compiled from 1971 aerial photography, provides a detailed view of the natural hydrology before modern shifts in water management, capturing the exact contours of features like the Crocodile Dragover and Joe Hammock. The boundary with Monroe Co cuts through these tidal waters, where Madeira Bay and Little Madeira Bay open into the larger bay system, punctuated by landmarks such as Terrapin Point and Madeira Point.