Chesapeake Bay

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Chesapeake Bay
Estuary
Chesapeakelandsat.jpeg
The Chesapeake Bay Landsat photo
Name origin: Chesepiooc, Algonquian for village "at a big river"
Country United States
States Maryland, Virginia
Tributaries
- left Chester River, Choptank River, Nanticoke River, Pocomoke River
- right Patapsco River, Patuxent River, Potomac River, Rappahannock Rive
r, York River, James River
Source Susquehanna River mouth
- location east of Havre de Grace, MD
- elevation 0 ft (0 m)
- coordinates 3932'35?N 7604'32?W
Mouth Atlantic Ocean
- location north of Virginia Beach, VA
- elevation 0 ft (0 m)
- coordinates 3659'45?N 7557'34?WCoordinates: 3659'45?N 7557'34?W
Length 200 mi (322 km)
Width 30 mi (48 km)
Depth 21 ft (6 m)
Basin 64,299 sq mi (166,534 km2)
Area 4,479 sq mi (11,601 km2)
Discharge
- average 78,300 cu ft/s (2,217 m3/s) [1]
- max 389,000 cu ft/s (11,015 m3/s)
- min 9,800 cu ft/s (278 m3/s)
Chesapeakewatershedmap.png
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Ramsar Wetland
Designated June 4, 1987
The Chesapeake Bay (/'t??s?pi?k/ chess-?-peek) is an estuary in the U.S. states
of Maryland and Virginia, lying inland from the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded to
the west by the North American mainland and to the east by the Delmarva Peninsu
la.[2] It is the largest estuary in North America.[3] With its northern portion
in Maryland and the southern part in Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay is a very impo
rtant feature for the ecology and economy of those two states, as well as others
. More than 150 major rivers and streams flow into the bay's 64,299-square-mile
(166,534 km2) drainage basin, which covers parts of six states (New York, Pennsy
lvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia) and all of Washington, D
.C.[2][4]
The bay is approximately 200 miles (320 km) long from its northern headwaters in
the Susquehanna River to its outlet in the Atlantic Ocean. It is 2.8 miles (4.5
km) wide at its narrowest (between Kent County's Plum Point near Newtown and th
e Harford County shore near Romney Creek) and 30 miles (48 km) at its widest (ju
st south of the mouth of the Potomac River). Total shoreline including tributari
es is 11,684 miles (18,804 km), circumnavigating a surface area of 4,479 square
miles (11,601 km2). Average depth is 21 feet (6.4 m), reaching a maximum of 174
feet (53 m).[5] The bay is spanned twice, in Maryland by the Chesapeake Bay Brid
ge from Sandy Point (near Annapolis) to Kent Island and in Virginia by the Chesa
peake Bay Bridge-Tunnel connecting Virginia Beach to Cape Charles. Known for bot
h its beauty and bounty, the bay became "emptier", with fewer crabs, oysters and
watermen in past years.[6] Recent restoration efforts begun in the 1990s have b
een ongoing and show potential for growth of the native oyster population.[7][8]
The health of the Chesapeake Bay improved in 2015, marking three years of gains
over the past four years, according to a new report by the University of Maryla
nd.[9]
Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
2 Physical geography
2.1 Geology and formation
2.2 Hydrology
3 Flora and fauna
4 History
4.1 European exploration and settlement
4.2 American Revolution to the present
5 Navigation
5.1 Tides
6 Economy
6.1 Fishing industry
6.2 Tourism and recreation
7 Environmental problems
7.1 Pollution and runoff
7.2 Depletion of oysters
8 Publications
9 Cultural depictions
9.1 In literature
9.2 In film
9.3 Other media
10 See also
11 References
12 Further reading
13 External links