Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay (pronunciation: /ˈtʃɛsəpiːk/ CHESS-ə-peek) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula with its mouth located between Cape Charles and Cape Henry in Virginia.
Etymology
The name "Chesapeake" is derived from the Algonquian word Chesepiooc referring to a village "at a big river." It is the seventh oldest surviving English place-name in the U.S., first applied as "Chesepiook" by explorers heading north from the Roanoke Colony into a Chesapeake tributary in 1585 or 1586.
Geography
The Chesapeake Bay is approximately 200 miles (320 km) long, from the Susquehanna River in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south. At its narrowest point between Kent County's Plum Point (near Newtown) and the Harford County shore near Romney Creek, the Bay is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) wide; at its widest point, just south of the Potomac River, it is 30 miles (48 km) wide. Total shoreline including tributaries is 11,684 miles (18,804 km), representing a surface area of 4,479 square miles (11,601 km^2). Average depth is 21 feet (6.4 m), reaching a maximum of 174 feet (53 m).
Flora and Fauna
The Chesapeake Bay is home to numerous species of flora and fauna. The Bay is known for its blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), oysters (Crassostrea virginica), and clams (Mercenaria mercenaria). The Bay also supports a variety of fish species including the striped bass (Morone saxatilis), Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), and American eel (Anguilla rostrata).
Environmental Concerns
The Chesapeake Bay has been subject to significant environmental concerns due to pollution and overfishing. Efforts to restore the Bay's health have been ongoing with the involvement of government agencies and non-profit organizations.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Chesapeake Bay
- Wikipedia's article - Chesapeake Bay
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