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1951 Map of South Bird Island

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of South Bird Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Padre Island dominates this coastal survey, revealing a landscape of shifting sand dunes reaching elevations up to 28 feet. The island acts as a massive barrier between the open Gulf of Mexico and the shallow, expansive waters of Laguna Madre. Centrally located within the lagoon, the Intracoastal Waterway is marked with numerous daybeacons and lights, serving as a critical navigation artery.

Evidence of mid-century coastal utility and military footprint appears along the mainland and the island's interior. The presence of Outlying Field 42 (Inactive) suggests recent naval or aviation history, while named landmarks like Lobo Windmill (C) and Novilla Windmill (C) indicate ranching or water management efforts on the western shore. High points such as Big Hill and Little Dagger Hill provide rare vertical relief in an otherwise flat environment of sand and mud flats, particularly around Big Cove.