Chesapeake Bay: Chesapeake Bay Estuary
Original, hand-drawn story map and accompanying gifts of Chesapeake Bay by renowned Illustrator and Xplorer Maps Co-Founder, Chris Robitaille.
The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the U.S. and the third largest in the world, spans over 200 miles from the Susquehanna River in Maryland to Virginia Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. This vital waterway drains 150 rivers and covers parts of six states (MD, VA, DE, PA, NY, and WV). Its name, derived from the Algonquian word "Chesepioc," means "village at a big river," reflecting its historical significance to the Powhatan tribes long before European settlement.
Home to more than 18 million people, the Chesapeake Bay is a hub of ecological and economic activity, supporting over 3,600 species of plants and animals. The Bay is celebrated for its Blue Crabs, sailing culture, historical shipwrecks, and its role in the Civil War, where the first ironclads battled near Hampton Roads, VA.