Chesapeake Bay: Introduction to an Ecosystem_1982
- Published:
- January 1, 1982
- Originator:
- Chesapeake Bay Progra,
Down through the years, residents and vistors alike have found the Chesapeake imposing yet hospitable. The Algonquin Indians called it "Chesepiooc" which loosely translates as the "Great Shellfish Bay." The Spanish explorers named is 'Bahia de Santa Maria" and considered it the "best and largest port in the world." Captain John Smith, who first mapped the Bay in preparation for English colonization, extolled the Chesapeake as, "...a faire bay encompassed but for the mouth with fruitful and delightsome land." All were impressed with its size, navigability and abundance of food. Today, the Chesapeake is still one of this country's most valuable natural treasures. Even after centuries of intensive use, the Bay remains a highly productive natural resource. It provides millions of pounds of seafood, functions as a huge natural habitat for wildlife, and offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.