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1952 Map of Punta Puerca

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Punta Puerca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The coastal headland of Punta Puerca and the strategic waters of the Vieques Passage define this 1952 topographic survey of the Ceiba coastline. Much of the terrestrial landscape is dominated by the Naval Reservation Machos, a military footprint established during a period of significant naval expansion in the Caribbean. Along the shoreline, navigational aids like the Faro lighthouse on Isla Cabras mark the entrance to protected waters such as Ensenada Honda and Bahía de Puerca.

Beyond the mainland, the map details a complex archipelago of small islands and hazards, including Isla Piñeros and the outlying rocks of Piedra Lavandera and Piedra Ahogada. The topography reveals a mix of mangrove-lined inlets and elevated points like Pta Medio Mundo, illustrating the natural maritime defenses and the transition from the Sonda de Vieques to the inner harbors. This edition reflects the area's mid-century military character before the eventual changes in federal land use.