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1955 Map of Mouth Of Rio Grande

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Mouth Of Rio Grande
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Mouth of Rio Grande marks the southern extremity of Texas in this mid-century survey of the Cameron County coast. The landscape is dominated by the complex hydrology of the Rio Grande as it meets the Gulf of Mexico, characterized by winding distributaries and numerous lomas—small coastal elevations such as Loma de los Ebanitos and Loma de la Pita. Human infrastructure is sparse, focused primarily on the Boca Chica Highway leading toward Boca Chica Beach.

Evidence of mid-century hydraulic engineering is visible with the Tidewater Dam, located near Tarpon Bend. The map also captures specialized legal and land features unique to the river border, such as the Steil-Lind Banco No 128, reflecting the shifting nature of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. The coastal lagoon system, including Laguna Madre and Verdolaga Lake, highlights the tidal flats and salt marshes that define this borderland environment.