1979 Map of San Diego

About this map

The San Diego waterfront and its complex underwater topography are the focus of this late-1970s topographic-bathymetric survey. From the urban density of National City and Chula Vista to the international border at Tijuana, the map captures a period of significant coastal development and military importance. Large federal footprints are evident at Miramar Naval Air Station and the various naval installations flanking San Diego Bay. This edition is particularly distinctive for its detailed submarine contours, which reveal the steep drop-offs of La Jolla Canyon and the massive Coronado Escarpment rising from the San Diego Trough. Along the shoreline, established recreation areas like Mission Bay Park and Silver Strand State Beach appear alongside academic landmarks including the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, illustrating the region's mid-century transition into a hub for maritime research and tourism.