So, what is the Chesapeake Bay known for? We picked six things. Each one comes with a fact from the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Quick answer: What is the Chesapeake Bay known for? Blue crabs and striped bass, for a start: 70 to 90 percent of Atlantic striped bass are spawned here. It also has 11,684 miles of shoreline, nearly 1 million wintering waterfowl, up to 3,000 pairs of bald eagles and two major ports.

Contents

1. Blue Crabs

The blue crab can grow up to 9 inches across. Its name comes from Greek words for “beautiful” and “swimmer.”[1]

2. Striped Bass

Locals call it rockfish. The Bay is where 70 to 90 percent of Atlantic striped bass are spawned.[2]

3. A Very Long Shoreline

Count the tidal rivers and the Bay has 11,684 miles of shoreline.[3]

4. Winter Birds

Nearly 1 million waterfowl spend the winter on the Bay. That is about one third of the migrating birds on the Atlantic coast.[4]

5. Bald Eagles

There were as few as 60 bald eagle pairs in the 1970s. Today there are as many as 3,000.[4]

6. Big Ports

Two of the five major U.S. North Atlantic ports are on the Bay: Baltimore and Hampton Roads.[4]

Frequently asked questions

What fish is the Chesapeake Bay known for? Striped bass, called rockfish; 70 to 90 percent of the Atlantic population is spawned in the Bay.

Are Chesapeake blue crabs overfished? The Bay Program says they have not been overfished since female-specific rules began in 2008.

How long is the Chesapeake Bay shoreline? 11,684 miles, counting tidal rivers.

References

Plan a trip with our Chesapeake Bay map.