1949 Map of Pacific Reef

About this map

Old Rhodes Key and Totten Key stand at the edge of the shallow Florida reef tract in the late 1940s, marking the transition from the protected waters of Turtle Harbor to the open Atlantic Ocean. This maritime survey, based on aerial photography from 1946 and ground topography from 1947, documents a landscape of shifting shoals and critical navigational aids. The Pacific Reef Lighthouse and several beacons, including Pacific Reef Beacon No 2 and Ten-Foot Shoals Beacon No 3, serve as essential markers for vessels navigating the treacherous waters near Old Rhodes Point. The map provides a clear view of the complex seafloor topography, showing deep-water passages like the Turtle Harbor Channel and the narrow Old Rhodes Channel that weave through the mangroves and reefs.