The Chesapeake Bay may be right in your backyard, but how much do you actually know about it? Check out these fun facts and get familiar with America’s largest estuary!
Just How Big Is The Chesapeake Bay?
The answer is: very. Of all of the 130 estuaries, or bodies of water where fresh and saltwater mix, in the United States, this bay is the largest. It’s about 200 miles long and stretches from Maryland to Virginia. It’s fed by 48 major rivers and drains into a 64,000 square mile basic. It has over 100 tributaries, giving the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries over 11,000 miles of shoreline. This is more than the entire US west coast!
How Did It Form?
Some say that the Chesapeake Bay began taking shape 18,000 years ago and became what we know it as today around 3,000 years ago. There are 2 different theories on how the bay came to be. Some say it was made when a giant asteroid hit the earth. Others believe it is the result of giant glaciers that melted.
What Lives In The Chesapeake Bay?
The Bay supports a vast and colorful ecosystem containing more than 3,600 species of plants, animals, and fish. It contains nearly 30 species of waterfowl and is known for its seafood. The Bay produces roughly 500 million pounds of seafood a year ranging from famous blue crabs to oysters and a variety of fish. Blue Crabs are a famous part of Maryland cuisine. These delicious crabs are known for eating absolutely anything, even each other on occasion. The Chesapeake Bay also provides a wide range of vibrant fishes, such as shad, which have become scarce due to the building of dams The Bay is what makes Maryland’s seafood so legendary and incredibly tasty.
YOUR SEAFOOD DESTINATION THIS SUMMER
Costas Inn has been a Baltimore tradition since 1971. You may recognize our restaurant, which was recently featured on the Food Network with Michael Symon on Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que! We were also voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today, as well as #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal. You may have also spotted Costas Inn during one of our 9 appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass.
You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for anytime eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!