Georgia Sea Islands by Radar
March 06, 2001
Provided by: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster
The history of sea islands in the Altamaha River delta on the coast of Georgia is revealed in this image produced from data acquired by the Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR), developed and operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The outlines of long-lost plantation rice fields, canals, dikes and other inlets are clearly defined. Salt marshes are shown in red, while dense cypress and live oak tree canopies are seen in yellow-greens.
Agricultural development of the Altamaha delta began soon after the founding of the Georgia Colony in 1733. By the 19th century about 25 plantations were located on the low-lying islands and shores growing indigo, rice and cotton. A major storm in 1824 destroyed much of the town of Darien (upper right) and put many of the islands under 20 feet of water. The Civil War ended the plantation system, and many of the island plantations disappeared under heavy brush and new growth pine forests. Some were used as tree farms for paper and pulp industries, while the Butler Island (center left) plantation became a wildlife conservation site growing wild sea rice for migrating ducks and other water fowl.
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