Seafood, recreation and tourism generate significant revenues for all states in the Chesapeake watershed, creating jobs and boosting local economies. The Chesapeake Bay watershed, home to more than 18 million people and 3,600 species of plants and animals, is truly an extraordinary place. The bay's watershed, which spans six states and the District of Columbia, never ceases to amaze with its rich history, vital economic importance and astounding beauty. The following are just a sample of some of the impressive facts and figures about our wonderful watershed.
The bay contains about 18 trillion gallons of water. That amount of water would fill more than fifty billion bathtubs to the brim. Not only does climate change threaten to exacerbate many of the environmental threats that Chesapeake Bay already faces, but it is also causing a rise in sea levels that are consuming diverse estuaries and wildlife habitats. Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in our country and is home to more than 3,600 species of plants, fish and animals.
If climate change continues unabated, the expected rise in sea level will significantly reshape the region's coastal landscape, threatening waterfowl hunting and recreational saltwater fishing in Virginia and Maryland. Right in our own backyard, the Powder River has long been considered an elite fly-fishing area, highly prized by the famous fisherman Lefty Kreh, a native of Frederick and famous fisherman. Several populated areas offer an opportunity to catch and release brown and rainbow trout. Chesapeake Bay, which straddles Maryland and Virginia, is the largest estuary in the United States.
UU. Brimming with stories from our country's past, Revolutionary War sites, and early American charm, this region is a dream come true for history lovers. It's also famous for its blue crabs, a well-loved local food that attracts seafood lovers from all over the country. From crab shacks to elegant oceanfront restaurants, you'll find countless ways to enjoy the bay's most iconic fishing. American Cruise Lines offers several itineraries across the Southeastern United States.
U.S. cruises that tour Chesapeake Bay, including our Chesapeake Bay cruises, American Revolution and the Potomac River and Bay cruises from Chesapeake. With so much to see, we've narrowed it down to five must-see destinations in this historic region. Relive the fight for American independence at the Museum of the American Revolution in Yorktown.
This immersive museum combines dynamic galleries with outdoor living history exhibits, including a Continental Army camp. Guests can witness musket drills, medical demonstrations and centuries-old farming practices XVIII. A visit to this museum is included when you sail to Yorktown in our American Revolution itinerary. Enjoy a cruise adventure with American Cruise Lines today.
From the coast of Maine to the stunning Mississippi and the Pacific Northwest, our free cruise guide offers detailed information on all of our 50+ U.S. The Chesapeake Bay Flotilla, which was built with shallow barges and ships to counter British naval attacks during the War of 1812. Concern about increasing discoveries of bay pollution problems and the institutional challenges of organizing bay restoration programs over a large geographical area led Congress to direct the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to play a greater role in studying the scientific and technical aspects of problems that began in the late 1970s. Over time, communities around Chesapeake Bay formed confederations such as Powhatan, Piscataway, and Nanticoke. Many of the bay's wild animals, including blue crab and waterfowl, rely on underwater grasses that grow in shallow waters. Along the bay, there are still some of the region's once-prolific shipyards, such as the Patuxent Small Craft Center in Solomons, in southern Maryland, or the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where a replica of the Maryland Dove that belonged to Lord Baltimore has just been completed.
With its long coastline, low topography, and growing coastal population, the Chesapeake Bay region is among the places in the country most vulnerable to rising sea levels. Less than 30 percent of tidal waters meet the standards of the Chesapeake Bay Program Watershed Agreement, which will be reviewed in 2025, and most of the millions of pounds of pollution added to them each year actually come from land. Algae prevent sunlight from reaching the bottom of the bay while they are alive and deoxygenate the water in the bay when it dies and rots. The Chesapeake Bay watershed has been heavily affected by natural forces such as erosion, tides, and a history of hurricanes and other storms. The northern end of the Oligohaline Zone is north of Baltimore and the southern end is the bridge of the Chesapeake Bay.
This region borders Chesapeake Bay and offers a treasure trove of maritime museums, historic sites and nature reserves for you to explore. The European colonists who populated Chesapeake Bay in the late 17th and early 18th centuries brought industrial agricultural techniques with them. But, over time, it will wind its way through 444 miles to the south, crossing fields, farms and forests, towns and cities, until it becomes the longest river on this side of the Mississippi and flows into its watershed, the Chesapeake Bay. The American Cruise Lines Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay cruise includes a premium guided tour with detailed information about the fort's critical role in defending the city.