Maryland, Talbot County, St Michaels
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In front of you, the Miles River is carrying freshwater down to the Chesapeake Bay. Twice a day, saltwater tides from the Atlantic Ocean push back the fresh water flow of the Miles River and some 150 other rivers, creeks, and streams. This mixing of waters creates an estuary---one of the most productive environments on earth.
In front of you, the Miles River is carrying freshwater down to the Chesapeake Bay. Twice a day, saltwater tides from the Atlantic Ocean push back the fresh water flow of the Miles River and some 150 other rivers, creeks, and streams. This mixing of waters creates an estuary---one of the most productive environments on earth.The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest and historically most productive estuary. The Bay’s nutrient-rich waters provide many different types of habitat that support diverse communities of plants and animals.
But with an average depth of only 21 feet spread over its 200 mile length, the Bay is especially vulnerable to pollution. With 11,000 miles of shoreline, the Bay is the gathering place for millions of tons of dirt and pollutants running off the land each year.
Why is the water brown? Every rainstorm brings more sediment washing into the river. Blooms of algae are caused by the over-rich nutrient load carried by the runoff.
(Environment • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
