1947 Map of Venice

About this map

Venice serves as the terminal hub for navigation on the lower Mississippi River, positioned where the river begins its final branching into the delta. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of distributaries and bays, including the sprawling Alexis Bay and Breton Sound. Of particular importance is The Jump, a significant crevasse and waterway junction that diverts river flow into the surrounding wetlands. This 1947 edition, based on earlier Air Corps aerial photography and field examinations, illustrates the complex deltaic hydrology of the era through named passes such as Main Lookout Pass, Kimbel Pass, and Tiger Pass. Extensive marshlands like Wilder Flats and numerous bayous, such as Baptiste Collette Bayou and Porpoise Bayou, highlight the precarious balance between land and water at the edge of the Gulf.