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2016 Map of Open Lake

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Open Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Mississippi River carves a complex boundary between Tennessee and Arkansas in this 2016 survey, defining a landscape dominated by shifting currents and floodplains. To the east of the main channel, the convergence of the Obion River, Middle Fork Forked Deer River, and Lower Forked Deer River creates an intricate network of wetlands, sloughs, and backwaters. The terrain is marked by significant oxbows and river-carved features like the Bend of Island Number Twentyfive and the Island Number Twentysix Bar.

Evidence of human habitation and navigation is found at Lightfoot and the Ashport Cem, situated on the higher ground of the eastern bluffs. A network of primitive roads and trails, such as the Camp Slough Trail and River Trail, provides access to the dense riparian environments surrounding Open Lake and Swan Lake. This map captures a modern view of a region where the natural hydrography of the river forks continues to shape the geography of Lauderdale and Mississippi counties.