1972 Map of Shark River Island

About this map

Everglades National Park dominates this 1972 orthophotomap, where the intricate labyrinth of the Florida mangroves meets the open Gulf of Mexico. This specialized survey combines aerial photography with topographic data to document a fluid coastline where land and water merge. The northern reach is defined by the wide expanse of Ponce De Leon Bay, which feeds into the dense interior through channels like the Little Shark River. A single Light serves as a navigational aid along this wild stretch of Shark River Island, marking the transition from the deep bay to the shallow, winding estuaries of Big Sable Creek. The map effectively illustrates the complex drainage patterns of the coastal Everglades before significant modern environmental changes, including the Indefinite Boundary marking the shifting edge of the protected parklands near Cape Sable.