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2011 Map of Tangier Island

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Tangier Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Tangier island life and its isolated maritime geography are documented here at the start of the 2010s. The intricate network of tidal channels, known locally as guts, including Toms Gut and Oyster Creek Gut, defines the settlement's structure. The primary habitation areas are concentrated on elevated ground, such as Main Ridge, West Ridge, and Canton Ridge, surrounded by expansive marshes like The Flats.

Maritime activity is centered around sheltered waters like Mailboat Harbor and Cod Harbor, emphasizing the community's total reliance on the water. Beyond the main island, the map tracks the shifting footprints of Little Fox Island and Watts Island within the Pocomoke Sound and Tangier Sound. This survey captures the fragile nature of this Chesapeake archipelago, where landmarks like Whale Point and Queen Ridge sit at the mercy of rising tides and coastal erosion.