1943 Map of San Clemente Island North

About this map

Northwest Harbor and Wilson Cove define the northern maritime character of San Clemente Island during the mid-war period. This survey, mapped by the Army Map Service from 1943 aerial photography, details the windswept and unpopulated northern reaches of the island. The topography is dominated by the narrowing at The Isthmus, where the land constricts before opening into the high ground of the island's interior. Notable navigation aids include the North Head Lighthouse and several other lighthouse stations along the eastern cliffs near Wilson Cove. The presence of Shifting Sands near the western shoreline at West Cove illustrates the dynamic coastal environment of this naval-administered territory. Numerous benchmark elevations, such as BM 750 and BM 820, provide precise vertical data for the island's rising ridgelines.