Its wetlands protect communities from extreme weather events, such as erosion, floods and storm surges. And the trees that stretch out from the bay. The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem affects the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. And the trees that stretch from the shores and the forests of the bay refresh our communities.
As an interconnected system, the health of the Bay Area affects the health of regions around the world, including the people who live in them. 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.
Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It extends from north to south from the mouth of the Susquehanna River to the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the most productive estuaries in the world, with more than 3,600 species of animals and plants. The bay provides vitally important habitats for wildlife, many recreational opportunities for people, and is an important fishery on which both people and wildlife.
The Chesapeake Bay watershed is an integral part of the human health and wealth of more than 18 million people, from providing an important source of drinking water to supporting a fishing industry that supports the families and livelihoods of older generations. Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the country. Its 64,000 square mile watershed encompasses one of the most economically important regions in the United States. More than 18 million people live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Chesapeake produces about 500 million pounds of seafood each year, creating jobs in commercial and recreational fishing and strengthening the regional economy. The bay is the largest estuary in the United States and the third largest in the world. It is approximately 200 miles long and contains more than 18 trillion gallons of water, part of the Atlantic Ocean and part of the 150 streams, streams and rivers that flow into its watershed. This mix of fresh and salt water supports more than 2,700 species of plants and animals.
I planned to spend my days sailing, eating as many blue crabs from Chesapeake Bay as possible and studying a little about the locals on the East Coast. The European colonists who populated Chesapeake Bay in the late 17th and early 18th centuries brought industrial agricultural techniques with them. Air temperatures in most places in the Chesapeake Bay Basin have increased over the past century. Humans have occupied the Chesapeake Bay Area for at least 12,000 years, although the exact chronology is unknown.
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. Drive across the picturesque Chesapeake Bay Bridge, visit the maritime museum, and then spend a day exploring Chestertown's many historic sites and museums. On average, the depth of the bay is 21 feet (6.4 m), including tributaries; more than 24 percent of the bay is less than 6 feet (2 m) deep. The Chesapeake Bay watershed includes parts of six states and is home to some 17 million people, including cities in Washington, D.Growing concern about pollution also led the Maryland and Virginia legislatures to establish the Chesapeake Bay Commission, an advisory body, in 1980.
Response of a benthic species that feeds in suspension (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin) to three centuries of anthropogenic eutrophication in Chesapeake Bay. Over the past 30 years, the average water temperature in Chesapeake Bay has increased by 1 degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite their central role in coastal food webs, surprisingly little is known about the ecology and dynamics of the misids in the bay from Chesapeake. NOAA works with other agencies and organizations to restore oyster reefs in the Maryland and Virginia waters of Chesapeake Bay.
Chesapeake Bay has been central to Maryland's culture, history, and economy for centuries. NOAA also leads the Chesapeake Bay Program's educational task force, which provides expertise and coordination that lead to policies that support environmental literacy throughout the watershed.