Major Bodies of Water in Maryland

Maryland’s Significant Waterways

• Chesapeake Bay – Largest U.S. estuary; 200 mi long, vital for fisheries, recreation, ecology.
• Atlantic Ocean – Eastern shore; beaches at Ocean City, Assateague Island.
• Potomac River – Forms southern/western border; 405 mi long, historic and recreational.
• Patapsco River – Flows through Baltimore; Inner Harbor at its mouth.
• Susquehanna River – Major northern river; feeds Chesapeake, supplies drinking water.
• Eastern Bay – Sub‑estuary of Chesapeake; important for crabbing and waterfront communities.

These waters define Maryland’s economy, environment, and lifestyle.