The Atlantic region of the United States has several notable bodies of water. Bays and gulfs are located along the Atlantic coast and rivers run out to the Atlantic Ocean. Bays are small bodies of water or inlets set off from a larger body of water. Typically, gulfs are described as large bodies of water -- usually surrounded by land -- with narrow openings. Rivers are large, natural streams of water.
Chesapeake Bay is a partially enclosed body of water located off the coast of Maryland. It's comprised of seawater diluted with fresh water. The bay was created by melting glaciers, and its shores were home to Native Americans who gave the bay its Algonquin name. Today, Chesapeake Bay provides a livelihood for fishermen and seafood harvesters, and is an important contributor to Maryland's economy.
Mobile Bay is Alabama's sole port for ocean-going ships and other vessels. Mobile Bay is an estuary in which the Mobile River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is economically important in terms of shipping, as it's the 14th largest port in the United States. Mobile Bay's watershed is approximately 43,662 square miles, making it the sixth largest basin in America.
The Potomac River played a significant role in America's history. It begins in West Virginia and runs all the way to the Chesapeake Bay. Some of its major tributaries include the Shenandoah River, Savage River and Antietam Creek. The Potomac supplies the D.C. area with approximately 90 percent of its drinking water. Its watershed is home to over 5.24 million people.
The Gulf of Maine is a semi-enclosed body of water bordering Canada to the north. Its watershed land area measures roughly 70,000 square miles. The Gulf of Maine provides important habitat for a wide variety of water fowl, shorebirds and marine species; it also provides Maine seafood harvesters with an abundance of lobster and scallops.
