2023 Map of Plum Island OE E

About this map

Long Island Sound and the high-energy waters of The Race dominate this maritime survey of the eastern approach from the Atlantic. The landscape is defined by small, isolated landmasses such as Great Gull Island and Little Gull Island, which serve as critical navigational markers in a treacherous stretch of sea. These islands and the nearby Little Gull Reef represent the skeletal remains of glacial moraines that once connected the forks of Long Island to the mainland. Submerged hazards like Valiant Rock and Constellation Rock illustrate why this passage required careful charting, even with the modern presence of the Intracoastal Waterway. The map captures the nautical character of the region, where the underwater topography of Race Point Ledge and Race Rock is just as significant to local history as the dry land.