Full Answer
What are the major rivers that drain into the Chesapeake Bay?
The eastern rivers of the Chesapeake Bay are quite different from those in the west. The largest of these rivers draining into the Bay are the Pocomoke, Wicomico, Nanticoke, Choptank, and Chester . These eastern rivers are not particularly long, do not collect freshwater from large drainage areas, and are tidal for most of their length.
What river feeds into the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore?
Baltimore’s Dundalk Marine Terminal, located on the Patapsco River, which feeds into the Chesapeake Bay. The AFT pumps water from the Patapsco River onto the raceway, which flows over a surface designed to enhance algal growth. As the algae grows, it cleans and oxygenates the water prior to its return to the river.
What rivers flow into the North Sea?
- YOUGHIOGHENY -- and you thought "Monongahela" was haaard to spell! ...
- CHEAT -- flows north from the middle of West VVirginia to Point Marion, Pa., just below (i.e. ...
- SHENANDOAH -- famous in song and story, it flows north by northeast through central Virginia north through West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle and meets the Potomac at Harpers Ferry . ...
What are 5 rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean?
- Further Reading:
- Amazon River, an article on Wikipedia.
- The North Brazil Current, by Barbie Bischof, Arthur J. Mariano, and Edward H. Ryan, and published on the Ocean Surface Currents web page provided by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program.
- The North Equatorial Counter Current, by Barbie Bischof, Arthur J. Mariano, and Edward H. ...
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What major rivers flow into the Chesapeake Bay?
Major rivers that empty into the Bay include the James, York, Rappahannock, Potomac, Patuxent, Patapsco, and Susquehanna from the west and the Pocomoke, Wicomico, Nanticoke, Choptank, and Chester from the east.
What are the three main rivers that drain into the Chesapeake Bay?
Collectively, the Chesapeake's three largest rivers—the Susquehanna, Potomac and James Rivers—provide more than 80 percent of the fresh water to the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay watershed has 150 major rivers and streams, but contains more than 100,000 smaller tributaries.
What are the 5 largest rivers that flow through the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
The three largest rivers in order of both discharge and watershed area are the Susquehanna River, the Potomac River, and the James River....Largest rivers.RiverMean annual flow (m3 s−1)Watershed drainage area (km2)[2]Susquehanna1,14570,189Potomac34730,044James23419,684Rappahannock494,1443 more rows
How many states have rivers flow to the Chesapeake Bay?
The Chesapeake Bay watershed spans more than 64,000 square miles, encompassing parts of six states—Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia—and the entire District of Columbia.
Where does the Chesapeake Bay start and end?
The Bay extends from Havre de Grace, Maryland, south to Virginia Beach, Virginia. That's almost 200 miles. If you include the tidal portions of the Bay's tributaries, the estuary covers around 4,480 square miles.
Are there sharks in the Chesapeake Bay?
The most common shark found in the Chesapeake is the sandbar shark. The sandbar shark can be found in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts all the way to southern Brazil, and is a seasonal visitor to the Chesapeake Bay in the summer and fall.
How deep is the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel?
The Chesapeake Channel tunnel is 5,450 feet long and provides a 1,700-foot channel with 50-foot depth and a 2,300-foot channel with a minimum 40-foot depth. The maximum roadway grade in the tunnels is 4 percent.
What is the depth range of the Chesapeake Bay?
Chesapeake BayAverage depth21 ft (6.4 m)Residence time180 daysReferencesRamsar Wetland22 more rows
How deep is the shipping channel in the Chesapeake Bay?
50 feet deepa. 50-Foot Project - The River and Harbor Act (R&H Act) of 1970 authorized a uniform main channel 50 feet deep, and generally 800 (in Maryland) or 1,000 (in Virginia) feet wide through the Chesapeake Bay from the Virginia Capes to Fort McHenry in the Port of Baltimore, a distance of 175 miles.
Why is the Chesapeake Bay so dirty?
Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous come from fertilizers, wastewater, septic tank discharges, air pollution, and runoff from farms, cities, and suburbs. Excessive amounts of sediment are carried into our waterways from erosion and from construction sites.
What is the largest Bay in North America?
The Hudson Bay encompasses 1,230,000 square kilometers, making it the second largest bay in the world after the Bay of Bengal (2,172,000 square kilometers).
What are 5 facts about the Chesapeake Bay?
10 Things You Didn't Know About the Chesapeake BayThe Bay holds about 18 trillion gallons of water. ... Only about half of the water in the Bay comes from the ocean. ... Roughly 51 billion gallons of water enter the Bay each day from the 100,000 streams, creeks, and rivers that feed it.More items...
What rivers are in the Chesapeake Bay?
Each day, the region's rivers and streams send about 51 billion gallons of fresh water into the Chesapeake Bay. Almost 90 percent of this fresh water comes from just five of these tributaries: the Susquehanna, Potomac, Rappahannock, York and James. These rivers are home to a diverse population of invertebrates, amphibians, fish and other critters: 1 A number of aquatic plants can be found in freshwater tributaries, including algae, mosses and several species of underwater grasses. 2 Diverse communities of benthic organisms can be found on the bottom of rivers and streams. These organisms—which include bacteria, clams, crustaceans, insect larvae and worms—form an important link in the food web, and act as an indicator of watershed health. 3 Some fish can only be found in freshwater tributaries, including bass, catfish and sunfish. 4 Anadromous fish—which include American shad and Atlantic menhaden —spend their adult lives in the ocean but migrate into freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. 5 Frogs, turtles and salamanders can be found in freshwater tributaries during some parts of their lives.
Where does the Chesapeake Bay get its water from?
Almost 90 percent of this fresh water comes from just five of these tributaries: the Susquehanna, Potomac, Rappahannock, York and James.
How do dams affect rivers?
Dams, culverts and other structures can alter the flow of rivers and streams, accelerate the accumulation of sediment and block migratory fish from reaching their spawning ground. In some areas, dams are being removed or lifts, ladders and passageways are being installed to reopen river habitat and allow fish to swim upstream.
Why are rivers important to the environment?
Rivers and streams also provide people with much-needed public access points where they can fish, boat and swim, observe wildlife, and reconnect with the watershed. Building personal connections with the environment can benefit public health and conservation and stewardship efforts.
What is the waste that enters the marine environment?
Litter and debris. Aquatic litter and debris includes plastic bags, cigarette butts, beverage bottles and other waste that enters the marine environment. Sometimes, this waste is thrown onto a street or into a waterway on purpose; other times, it enters the environment accidentally.
What are the aquatic plants that live in rivers?
These rivers are home to a diverse population of invertebrates, amphibians, fish and other critters: A number of aquatic plants can be found in freshwater tributaries, including algae, mosses and several species of underwater grasses. Diverse communities of benthic organisms can be found on the bottom of rivers and streams.
How does sediment enter the water?
Excess sediment enters the water through agricultural and urban runoff, stream bank and shoreline erosion, and other sources. Suspended sediment can block sunlight from reaching underwater grasses, smother oysters and other bottom-dwelling species, and clog ports and channels.
How deep is the Chesapeake Bay?
Average depth is 21 feet (6.4 m), reaching a maximum of 174 feet (53 m). The Bay is spanned twice, in Maryland by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from Sandy Point (near Annapolis) to Kent Island and in Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel connecting Virginia Beach to Cape Charles .
What fish live in the Chesapeake Bay?
The piping plover is a near threatened species that inhabits the wetlands. Larger fish such as Atlantic sturgeon, varieties of sharks, and stingrays visit the Chesapeake Bay. The waters of the Chesapeake Bay have been regarded one of the most important nursery areas for sharks along the east coast.
Why is Chesapeake Bay important?
The Chesapeake Bay plays an important role in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania's economies, in addition to the ecosystem. The nature-based recreation of wildlife, boating, and ecotourism are dependent on the Clean Water Act (CWA), that was enacted in order to maintain a polluted-free Bay.
Why are tides unique in the Chesapeake Bay?
Tides in the Chesapeake Bay exhibit an interesting and unique behavior due to the nature of the topography (both horizontal and vertical shape), wind-driven circulation, and how the Bay interacts with oceanic tides. Research into the peculiar behavior of tides both at the northern and southern extents of the Bay began in the late 1970s. One study noted sea level fluctuations at periods of 5 days, driven by sea level changes at the Bay's mouth on the Atlantic coast and local lateral winds, and 2.5 days, caused by resonant oscillations driven by local longitudinal winds, while another study later found that the geometry of the Bay permits for a resonant period of 1.46 days.
What is the largest estuary in the United States?
The Chesapeake Bay ( / 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 (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / Eastern Shore of Virginia and the state of Delaware) with its mouth ...
Why did the Cavaliers migrate to the Chesapeake Bay?
Because of economic hardships and civil strife in the "Mother Land", there was a mass migration of southern English Cavaliers and their servants to the Chesapeake Bay region between 1640 and 1675, to both of the new colonies of the Province of Virginia and the Province of Maryland .
When did the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay begin?
Restoration efforts that began in the 1990s have continued into the 21st century and show potential for growth of the native oyster population. The health of the Chesapeake Bay improved in 2015, marking three years of gains over a four-year period, according to a 2016 report by the University of Maryland.
How long does it take for the Susquehanna River to flow into the Chesapeake Bay?
It takes six days for water to flow from the farthest corner of the watershed—the head or source waters of the Susquehanna River in New York—to Havre de Grace, Maryland, where it empties into the Chesapeake. Each year, the Susquehanna River transports more than a million tons of sediment to the Bay.
What is the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
The Chesapeake Bay watershed stretches from Cooperstown, New York, to Norfolk, Virginia, and includes parts of six states—Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia—and the entire District of Columbia. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is about seven times larger than the state of New Hampshire, ...
What is the geologic history of the Chesapeake Bay?
The geologic history of the Chesapeake Bay includes physiographic provinces, tectonics, ice ages, and ocean processes.
How wide is the Chesapeake Bay?
The Chesapeake Bay is about 200 miles (300 km) long. At its narrowest point, the Bay is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) wide. At its widest point, just south of the mouth of the Potomac River, it is 30 miles (50 km) wide. The Bay and its tributaries contain an astounding 11,684 miles (18,804 km) of shoreline.#N#Much of the Bay is quite shallow; more than 24 percent of the Bay is less than 6 feet (2 m) deep. The average depth is 21 feet (7 m). The deepest channel in the Bay is 175 feet (53 m).
What caused the Chesapeake Bay to form?
Because rivers flow along the path of least resistance, the depression created by the crater caused river valleys to converge, setting the stage for the formation of the Chesapeake Bay.
How did the Atlantic Ocean form?
The Atlantic Ocean started to form about 200 million years ago. A rift or gap opened in the supercontinent of Gondwanaland, separating South America and Africa. Sediments eroded from higher elevations into the low-lying areas created as the Atlantic Ocean opened. The sediments draped over the edge of the continent, extending seaward for hundreds of miles to form the Coastal Plain. Glaciation frequently changed the sea level, contributing to the formation of the coastal plain. When the sea level rose, water covered the Coastal Plain, depositing marine sediments to form a type of sand that geologists call the Chesapeake Group.
What is the primary physical and ecological variable that changes through the length of the Bay?
The other half is freshwater that drains into the Bay from its enormous watershed.Salinity is the primary physical and ecological variable that changes through the length of the Bay. Brackish water, a combination of saltwater and freshwater, fills most of the Bay.
What is pondweed in the Chesapeake Bay?
Slender pondweed is a bay grass with long, thin, grass-like leaves along slender, branching stems. It grows in quiet, fresh to slightly brackish creeks, rivers and other tidal tributaries throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
What is the name of the fish with a lower jaw?
Also known as the green bass, the largemouth bass has a lower jaw that extends well past its eye and is considered one of the most popular sport fishes in the United States.
Where do Atlantic Sturgeons spawn?
The Atlantic sturgeon is a bony, ancient-looking fish that visits the Chesapeake Bay in spring to spawn in Virginia’s James and York rivers. It was once found throughout the Bay and its freshwater rivers, but is now very rare.
What river flows through the Chesapeake Bay?
The Patapsco River is a 39-mile-long river in central Maryland which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The tidal area of the Patapsco is crossed by the Baltimore Harbor and Fort McHenry Tunnels as well as the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Where is the Chesapeake Bay?
The Chesapeake Bay extends 200 miles and encompasses a large geographical area in Maryland and Virginia. This map shows the entire region. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge on the northern end provides access between Annapolis (Sandy Point) and the Maryland Eastern Shore (Stevensville). On the southern end of the Bay, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel ...
What is the Patuxent River?
Google Maps. The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay that bisects the western shore of the State of Maryland north to south. The River is home for more than 100 species of fish, including bass, catfish, chain pickerel, and bluefish. The Patuxent Water Trail winds through seven counties in Maryland.
What river flows through New York and Pennsylvania?
Google Maps. The Susquehanna River is 464 miles and the longest river on the East Coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The Susquehanna rises and flows through New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland into the Chesapeake Bay.
What are the recreational activities in Chesapeake Bay?
The Chesapeake Bay offers a wide range of recreational activities such as fishing, crabbing, swimming, boating, kayaking, and sailing. Some of the region's most popular getaway destinations are along the Bay.
Where is the Rappahannock River?
The Rappahannock River runs for approximately 184 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the Chesapeake Bay south of the Potomac River. The Rappahannock offers one of the most scenic and best-protected river corridors in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Where does the Potomac River run?
The Potomac River runs over 383 miles from Fairfax Stone, West Virginia to Point Lookout, Maryland and flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The river is the fourth largest along the Atlantic Coast and has many creeks and streams that flow into it.
