1981 Map of Sanibel

About this map

Sanibel Island serves as the focal point of this 1981 topographic-bathymetric study, illustrating the delicate balance between human settlement and extensive conservation lands at the mouth of San Carlos Bay. The map highlights the sprawling reaches of the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the Sanibel Island State Botanical Site, which dominate the island's interior. This era reflects a period of established environmental protection, with the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve and Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge buffering the coastal reaches. Beyond the immediate settlement of Sanibel and its iconic southern Lighthouse, the map provides detailed bathymetric contours for the Gulf of Mexico, including offshore protraction survey data used for resource management. The geography emphasizes the island's isolation and its role as a sanctuary, separated from the mainland by a network of sounds and passes.