2012 Map of Shark River Island

About this map

Shark River Island sits at the intricate transition where the Florida coast meets the Gulf of Mexico, a landscape dominated by tidal hydrology and mangrove estuaries. This 2012 survey captures the coastal morphology of Monroe County, featuring the prominent Shark River Bluff and the winding reaches of the Little Shark River. The map documents a wilderness region defined by its watercourses rather than human infrastructure, showing the complex drainage of Big Sable Cr as it flows toward the open sea. This record is particularly valuable for tracking coastal erosion and the shifting boundaries of Ponce de Leon Bay, providing a precise benchmark for the environmental state of the Everglades' western fringe in the early 21st century.