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2015 Map of Main Pass

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of Main Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

The low-lying marshlands and intricate waterways of Louisiana’s Plaquemines Parish dominate this coastal survey. The landscape is defined by the fragmentation of land into named islands such as Gaspar Island, Contrariete Island, and Scarabin Island, separated by a complex network of channels including Main Pass and Octave Pass. These waters, where the Mississippi River delta meets the Gulf Of Mexico, are etched with local names for bends and bayous like Spoonbill Bend and Snow Goose Bayou.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the specific hydrography that has shaped navigation and fishing in this region for generations. The map details numerous named ponds, from Blackbird Pond to the remote Bienvenue Outside Pond, reflecting the highly specific local nomenclature used by those who work these wetlands. The absence of traditional roads underscores the reliance on waterborne transport through passages like Delta Pass and Cottam Pass in this ever-shifting coastal environment.