1943 Map of Snipe Keys

About this map

The Snipe Keys and surrounding archipelagos of Monroe County define this maritime survey, which captures the intricate waterways and mangrove islands during the Second World War. Established as Precinct 8, the area is a complex network of tidal flats and shallow basins, including Jewfish Basin and Turkey Basin. Navigational markers like Eaglenest Key BN 71 and Waltz Key BN 86 provide essential orientation through the tidal channels. The presence of Old Dan Mangrove near Fish Hawk Key highlights the specific coastal vegetation that historically shaped the Lower Florida Keys. Compiled from air photographs by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, the map documents the natural passages such as the Mud Key Channel and Barracuda Key Channel before significant modern development altered these remote shorelines.