Major Bodies of Water in the Northeastern United States

The Northeast U.S.—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware—is defined by water. Glaciers carved its landscape; the Atlantic bounds it; rivers powered its industrial revolution; lakes and estuaries sustain its ecology and economy.

Marine & Estuarine Systems

Atlantic Ocean

• Entire eastern boundary; Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Mid-Atlantic Bight
• Continental shelf: productive fisheries (cod, haddock, scallops, lobster)
• Major ports: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Portland

Long Island Sound

• 110 mi long; 21 mi max width; 1,320 mi²
• Between Long Island (NY) and Connecticut
• Estuarine: 90% freshwater input from CT rivers; tidal exchange at The Race
• Issues: Hypoxia (nitrogen), marsh loss, shellfish restoration

Chesapeake Bay

• 200 mi long; 64,000 mi² watershed (6 states + DC)
• Largest US estuary; 11,684 mi shoreline
• Key species: Blue crab, oyster, striped bass, menhaden
• Restoration: Chesapeake Bay Program (1983-); TMDL "pollution diet"

Delaware Bay

• 82 mi long; 782 mi²; DE/NJ border
• World's largest horseshoe crab spawning; red knot migration stopover
• Port of Philadelphia, Salem Nuclear Plant, oyster beds

Other Estuaries/Bays

• Raritan Bay (NJ/NY) — 13 mi; NY/NJ Harbor complex
• Narragansett Bay (RI) — 147 mi²; 40+ islands
• Buzzards Bay (MA) — 228 mi²; Cape Cod Canal western entrance
• Casco Bay (ME) — 200+ islands; Portland harbor
• Penobscot Bay (ME) — 1,000+ mi²; rockbound coast

Major Lakes

Lake Champlain

• 120 mi long; 490 mi²; 400 ft max depth
• NY/VT border; extends into Quebec (Missisquoi Bay)
• Drains north via Richelieu River → St. Lawrence
• Champ (legendary monster); lake trout, landlocked salmon, bass
• Historic: Revolutionary War fleet (Valcour Island); War of 1812

Lake George

• 32 mi long; 44 mi²; 195 ft max depth
• Adirondacks, NY; "Queen of American Lakes"
• Drains north via La Chute River → Lake Champlain
• Exceptional clarity; oligotrophic; intensive protection

Other Notable Lakes

• Moosehead Lake (ME) — 117 mi²; largest in ME
• Lake Winnipesaukee (NH) — 71 mi²; 250+ islands
• Lake Hopatcong (NJ) — 4 mi²; largest in NJ
• Raystown Lake (PA) — 13 mi²; largest in PA (reservoir)
• Quabbin Reservoir (MA) — 39 mi²; Boston water supply
• Finger Lakes (NY) — 11 glacial lakes; Seneca (67 mi²), Cayuga (66 mi²)

Major Rivers

Connecticut River

• 410 mi; NH/VT/MA/CT; New England's longest
• Source: Fourth Connecticut Lake (NH/Canada border)
• Mouth: Long Island Sound (Old Saybrook, CT)
• Dams: 15+ mainstem; anadromous fish restoration (shad, salmon, eel)
• Silas Deane Highway (CT) follows historic river valley

Hudson River

• 315 mi; NY; tidal to Troy (153 mi)
• Source: Lake Tear of the Clouds (Adirondacks)
• Mouth: NY Harbor
• PCB contamination (GE); Superfund cleanup ongoing
• Estuary: Critical habitat; 200+ fish species

Other Significant Rivers

• Merrimack (NH/MA): 117 mi; Lowell mills; drinking water 600K+
• Piscataqua (NH/ME): 12 mi tidal; Portsmouth Harbor
• Saco (NH/ME): 136 mi; White Mountains source
• Androscoggin (ME/NH): 178 mi; Berlin mills; recovery from pollution
• Kennebec (ME): 170 mi; Edwards Dam removal (1999) — restoration model
• Penobscot (ME): 281 mi; Penobscot Nation; dam removals (2012-13)
• St. John (ME/NB): 418 mi; international; Reversing Falls
• Susquehanna (NY/PA/MD): 444 mi; Chesapeake's largest tributary
• Potomac (WV/VA/MD/DC): 405 mi; DC water supply; Great Falls
• Delaware (NY/NJ/PA/DE): 330 mi; longest undammed East Coast river

Watershed Boundaries

• St. Lawrence/Great Lakes: Western NY, PA (Lake Erie/Ontario drainages)
• Atlantic Direct: Most of New England, NY coastal, NJ, DE, MD
• Chesapeake Bay: PA (Susquehanna), MD, DE, VA, WV, DC
• Ohio River: Western PA (Allegheny, Monongahela, Youghiogheny)

Water doesn't recognize state lines. The Northeast's rivers, lakes, and estuaries form an integrated hydrologic fabric that sustains 56 million people, diverse ecosystems, and a $4 trillion regional economy. Understanding this water map is essential for anyone living, working, or governing in the region.