1946 Map of Punta Puerca

About this map

The coastal waters and islands of Ceiba are dominated by the Naval Reservation in this 1940s-era survey, reflecting the strategic military importance of eastern Puerto Rico during the Second World War. The map details a complex maritime landscape where the Sonda de Vieques meets the rugged shoreline of Punta Puerca. Navigation is aided by a Faro located on Isla Cabras, guarding the entrance to Ensenada Honda. Small islets and hazards like Isla Piñeros, Isla Cabeza de Perro, and Piedra Lavandera pepper the Pasaje Medio Mundo, illustrating the intricate piloting required for vessels moving through these channels. The survey emphasizes the isolation of these coastal reaches, highlighting a landscape defined more by natural topography and military boundaries than by civilian settlement.