1972 Map of Pelican Keys

About this map

Everglades National Park encompasses this expansive marine and coastal environment in Monroe County, where the transition from open water to shallow mudflats is meticulously detailed via orthophotography. The area is dominated by Whipray Basin and the shallow reaches of the Dildo Key Bank, revealing the intricate textures of the submerged landscape and the scattered mangrove islands that define the Florida Bay. Small, isolated landforms such as Pelican Keys, Dead Terrapin Key, and Cluett Key are visible, many named for local wildlife or maritime features. This 1972 orthophotomap, based on aerial photography from the previous year, provides a precise view of the shoals and channels during a period of environmental preservation. It serves as a visual record of the shoreline and benthic patterns before natural shifts or modern sea-level changes altered the configurations of islands like Buoy Key and Whipray Keys.