2024 Map of North Islands OE W

About this map

Breton National Wildlife Refuge encompasses the shifting coastal geography of Saint Bernard Parish, where the gulf waters meet the fragmented shoreline of the North Islands. This area is defined by the shallow, open expanse of the Chandeleur Sound, an environment where land and water exist in a state of constant flux. The lack of contour lines on this sheet reflects the low-lying, unstable nature of these barrier islands, which serve as a critical buffer between the open sea and the inner Louisiana coastline. Maritime history and coastal preservation are the primary focus here, with Shoalwater Bay providing a sheltered pocket within the larger island chain. The map documents the persistent but fragile presence of this wilderness area in the face of ongoing coastal erosion.