1946 Map of Punta Cuchara

About this map

The Mar Caribe coastline near Ponce reveals a mid-century landscape of coastal agriculture and early industrial infrastructure. The American Railroad parallels the shore, connecting the settlement of Playa de Ponce to the interior, while Hacienda Matilde sits near the mouth of the Rio Matilde. This 1943 survey, published in 1946, details a terrain where tidal flats like Laguna de las Salinas meet the limestone rise of the Peñón de Ponce. Offshore, a string of small islands including Cayo Ratones and Cayo Cardona—the latter marked with a Faro—guard the approach to the Bahía de Tallaboa. The map also identifies a U S Mil Res near the coast, reflecting the strategic importance of the island's southern ports during the post-war era.