Estuaries and the Chesapeake Bay

Front

What type of Estuary is the Chesapeake Bay?

Back

Drowned River Valley

Front

What are the 6 states of the Chesapeake Bay watershed?

Back

New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware

Front

What is the ocean that covered the Chesapeake Bay watershed?

Back

Iapetus Ocean

Front

What are the 4 types of estuaries?

Back

Fjord, drowned river valley, bar-built, and tectonic

Front

What is an estuary?

Back

Partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean

Front

Define a Fjord estuary.

Back

A deep, narrow, and often glacially-carved inlet of the sea.

Front

Define a Bar-Built estuary.

Back

An estuary formed by the accumulation of sandbars or barrier islands that separate the estuary from the ocean.

Front

Define a Delta estuary.

Back

An area where a river meets a body of water and deposits sediment, forming a landform.

Front

Define a Tectonic estuary.

Back

An estuary formed by the sinking of land due to tectonic activity.

Front

What is the significance of estuaries in ecosystems?

Back

Estuaries serve as nurseries for marine life, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for wildlife.