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2013 Map of Palacios SE

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Palacios SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Matagorda Peninsula serves as the defining landform on this coastal survey, separating the protected waters of Matagorda Bay from the open Gulf of Mexico. This narrow barrier island environment is characterized by a series of tidal inlets and complex marshy channels, including Maverick Bayou, Big Bayou, and Forked Bayou. These waterways define the internal drainage of the peninsula, providing a glimpse into the dynamic coastal geomorphology of the Texas Gulf Coast in the early 21st century.

Submerged features and tidal flats further illustrate the maritime character of the region. Mad Island Reef and Shell Island Reef are prominent hazards or habitat areas within the bay, located near the northwestern reaches of the map near Mad Island Lake. Further east, the intricate network of Hooper Bayou and Long Bayou demonstrates the fragmented nature of the shoreline where the peninsula narrows.