Geography of Delaware, Maryland, &

Virginia

Kelly Hall

Beth Reimer

Delaware

• Coastline length:

45 km (28 mi)• Shoreline length:

613 km (381 mi)

Geography of Coastline

Rohoboth Bay

Delaware River

Delaware Canal

Character of Shoreline

• Extensive saltwater marshes, sand dunes, long sandy barrier beaches

• Cape Henlopen• Impt. Bays:

Delaware Bay, Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay

Major Rivers/Estuaries

• Delaware River flows to Delaware Bay

• Delaware Canal links Del. Bay and Chesapeake Bay

Character of Coastal Region

• Climate: hot humid summers/mild winters– 31 F – 80s F– 45 in. precip.

Tidal Range

Development of Shoreline

• Coastal population: 666,168

• U.S. rank: 25th of 35

Maryland• Coastline length:

50 km (31 mi)• Shoreline length:

5,134 km (3,190 mi)

Geography of Shoreline

Assateague IslandPotomac River

Susquehanna River

Character of Shoreline

• Tidal/non-tidal wetlands, sandy beaches, shallow lagoons, long narrow barrier beaches

• Great Pocomoke Swamp

• Chesapeake Bay• Assateague Island

Major Rivers/Estuaries

• Nearly all of Maryland drains to Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic

• Potomac River forms harbor at Baltimore

• Susquehanna River enters head of Chesapeake Bay

Tidal Range

Development of Shoreline

• Coastal population: 3,339,056

• U.S. rank: 11th of 35

Virginia• Coastal length: 180

km (112 mi)• Shoreline length:

5,335 km (3,315 mi)

Geography of Shoreline

Cape HenryCape Charles

Potomac RiverRappohannock River

York River

James River

Character of Shoreline

• Tidal marshes, swamps, long sandy beaches, barrier islands,

• Great Dismal Swamp• Natural harbors:

Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads

• Cape Henry, Cape Charles

Major Rivers/Estuaries

• 4 Tidal rivers: Potomac, Rappahannok, York, James

Character of Coastal Region

• Industries: shipping, tourism, commercial/recreational fishing

• Wildlife: blue crab, striped bass

• Climate: hot, humid summers/ mild winters– 42 F – 100s F– 50 in. precip.

Tidal Range

Development of Shoreline

• Coastal population: 4,010,900

• U.S. rank: 9th of 35

References:

• http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/pdf/statestats.pdf• http://www.nescenicphoto.com/• http://www.netstate.com/states/maps/md_maps.htm• http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/• http://www.deq.state.va.us/coastal/whatnew.html• http://www.deq.state.va.us/coastal/whatnew.html• http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?

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