Chesapeake Bay-the Largest Estuary In The Us

摘要

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest of 130 estuaries in the United States, containing 15 trillion gallons (56.8 trillion litres) of water and having a surface area of over 4000 square miles (10,360km~2). It is situated on the eastern US Atlantic coast between Havre deGrace, Maryland, to the north, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, to the south. Its coastline extends over 11,000 miles (17,700km)-longer than the Pacific coast of the US. Within its watershed are 150 major rivers and streams. The Bay is among the most important estuaries in America, valued for recreation as well as a crab, shad and oyster fishery that has been rapidly declining in recent years. Waterfowl are plentiful, as the Bay is on a major route for migrating birds.