1955 Map of Mouth Of Rio Grande

About this map

The international boundary between the United States and Mexico winds through the sharp meanders of the Rio Grande as it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. This 1955 survey captures the coastal landscape of Cameron County at a point of transition, featuring the Tidewater Dam (Under Construction) and the now-abandoned Port Isabel Reservoir (Aband). The terrain is defined by a series of low hills or lomas, such as Loma de los Ebanitos and Loma de la Pita, rising above the flats of the Laguna Madre. Of particular interest to local historians are the river's complex geological features, including the Stell-Lind Banco No 128 and the sharp turn at Tarpon Bend, which illustrate the shifting nature of the river border before modern stabilization. The Boca Chica Highway provides the primary access across the Mesa del Gavilan toward the Shifting Sand Dunes at the coast.