1977 Map of Ship Shoal Inlet

About this map

Smith Island and its shifting barrier coastline dominate this 1977 orthophotograph, produced by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service. The aerial imagery reveals the complex tidal marsh and drainage patterns where South Bay meets the open Atlantic Ocean. The dynamic nature of the Virginia Eastern Shore is evident in the configuration of Ship Shoal Inlet, which separates the island segments and provides a conduit for tidal flow. Because this is an orthophotoquad rather than a traditional line-drawn map, it provides an authentic visual of the vegetation density and coastal erosion as they existed in the late 1970s, making it a valuable tool for environmental historians studying the long-term migration of the Atlantic barrier islands.