Chesapeake Bay Explorer's Guide: Natural History, Plants, and Wildlife

Known for its beauty and bounty, the Chesapeake Bay stretches nearly 200 miles from the mouth of the Susquehanna River to the ocean capes of the Atlantic, its tidal waters enriching the vibrant coastal communities of both Maryland and Virginia.

Chesapeake Bay Explorer’s Guide is the perfect reference for visitors who want to know more about the things they see in their visit to the famous estuary, whether they are relaxing on a beach, paddling through a saltmarsh, or watching workboats duck beneath a drawbridge. Explore more than 14,415 miles of shoreline, myriad hiking trails, and scores of wildlife preserves nestled between resort towns and other attractions. This guide provides a concise history of how the Bay was formed, and brief entries with full-color images and easy-to-read descriptions of the flora, fauna, and man-made artifacts found in and around the Bay.

DR. DAVID MALMQUIST has spent the last two decades writing about the Chesapeake Bay on an almost daily basis in his position as news and media director at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), one of the largest marine research and education centers in the United States. He lives outside of Williamsburg, Virginia.