1951 Map of North Islands

About this map

Chandeleur Islands stretch across this mid-century hydrographic and topographic study, showing the fragile barrier island chain as it existed following 1950 aerial photography and 1951 field checks. Much of the land area is protected as part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, where shifting sands and marshy outcrops separate the Chandeleur Sound from the open Gulf of Mexico. The map documents the intricate coastline of the North Islands portion of the refuge, featuring the protected waters of Shoalwater Bay and the navigational passage of Smack Channel. This document provides a precise baseline for coastal geologists and environmental historians studying the long-term migration and erosion of Louisiana's easternmost barrier islands before late 20th-century storm cycles further altered the archipelago.