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2016 Map of Ship Shoal Inlet

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Ship Shoal Inlet
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Smith Island and a sprawling chain of barrier islands dominate this coastal portion of Northampton County, Virginia. The landscape is a complex network of marshes and tidal waterways, where major passages like the Main-Ship Shoal Channel and White Perch Channel provide navigation through the shifting shoals. This 2016 survey highlights the dynamic nature of the Atlantic coastline, showing the reach of Ship Shoal Inlet and New Inlet as they divide the protective outer banks.

Researchers of coastal history can trace the intricate drainages of the salt marshes, such as Red Drum Drain and Godwin Island Creek. The map documents the relationship between the secluded inner islands like Mockhorn Island and the exposed oceanfront at Myrtle Island Beach and Smith Island Beach, providing a baseline for studying shoreline change and the preservation of these unpopulated coastal environments.