Names: ______Pd: ______

A Geographic Look at the Chesapeake Bay - Part 1

Overview: You will be working in small groups using Google Earth and maps to label your map of the Chesapeake Bay. When you have finished this assignment you will have label the Bay proper, major tributaries, and major cities. You will be required later to identify the largest tributaries and list examples of cities without the aid of maps/Google Earth.

Objectives:

  • Locate the Bay proper and its major tributaries.
  • Describe the Bay’s geographic location in terms of the U.S. region it is found and the states surrounding it.
  • Identify and label the Bay Proper and the states surrounding it.

Instructions:

  1. Insure your group has a map, markers, computer, and that the internet is working. At this time, open up Google Earth or Google Maps, whichever you have been instructed to use, and locate the Chesapeake Bay.
  1. If using Google Earth, expand the “Boarders and Labels” option under the Layers sidebar on the left.
  2. Expand “Borders” and make sure all are checked except Country Names and International Borders.
  3. Expand “Labels” and check Water Bodies.
  1. If using Google Map Make sure you are in the “Satellite” or “Earth” mode in the top right corner.
  1. Begin labeling the Chesapeake Bay and the states that surround it on you map. Take your time to ensure you are identifying and labeling accurately. Answer the following Questions:
  2. What is the southernmost state in the Chesapeake Bay watershed?

Virginia

  • What is the northernmost state in the Chesapeake Bay watershed?

New York

  • What states line the Bay proper?

Virginia, Maryland, Delaware

  1. Using the Ruler tool in Earth (or the distance scale in the bottom left for Google Maps) to roughly determine the length of the Bay. Once you have selected the ruler tool a small window will pop up. Select the “path” tab and begin measuring by clicking on points along the Bay.
  2. About how long is the Chesapeake Bay proper?

~190 miles (~305Km)

  1. Now clear the measuring path by clicking the “Clear button” and close the ruler window. Look back to the Layers sidebar. Find and expand “Gallery”, then check National Geographic. Starting near the mouth of the Bay in Virginia, zoom in and move north along the Bay until you find the National Geographic Video Clip “A Waterman’s Life: Tangier Island”. If you hover you mouse pointer over the small icons it will tell you what they are. Click on the location called “A Waterman’s Life” and then click “Launch the video…” from the popup. Once the video loads click “Begin your Journey” and answer these questions:
  2. What Island does this video take place on?

Tangier Island

  • Who does this video interview?

James Eskridge

  • What percentage of families depends on the water?

90%

  1. After viewing the video, click “Back to Google Earth” button in the top left corner of the browser window. Continue to travel north up the Bay till you find another video spot call “The Chesapeake Bay”. Again, click on this and in the popup click “Listen to the audio…” Listen to at least 2 of the four Folk songs and answer these questions:
  2. Who wrote these songs and what does he sign about?

Tom Wisner

  • What are the four song titles available?

Cap’ms Gone, Chesapeake Born, Made of Water, Esta Tierra de las Aguas

  • Which did you listen to?

Note: you may recognize Made of Water as the title song for “A Waterman’s Life: Tangier Island” video.

  1. Click “Back to Google Earth” button in the top left corner of the browser window. Uncheck the National Geographic Magazine now from the layers option and instead check “Trimble Outdoors Trips”. Explore around the Bay locating at least 3 different activities that occur on the Bay or on its tributaries and list its Name, State, Activity and a brief overview.
  2. Name:
  3. State:
  4. Activity:
  5. Overview:
  • Name:
  • State:
  • Activity:
  • Overview:
  1. Uncheck the “Trimble Outdoors Trips” from the layers option and instead check “Parks/Recreation Areas” under “More” options. Explore around the Bay locating at least 2 different Wildlife Refuges that are on the Bay or on its tributaries and list the names below. After you have found two wildlife refuges, search the internet to learn more about one of them and answer the following:
  2. Name:
  • Name:
  • State:
  • Size:
  • Purpose:
  1. Carefully outline and label the wildlife refuge onto your map. You may now browser around the Chesapeake Bay and look at the different parts. You may want to explore the options under the layers. Look at “panoramio photos” and “Gallery” for some interesting videos and pictures.

Names: ______Pd: ______

A Geographic Look at the Chesapeake Bay - Part 2

Objectives:

  • Locate the Bay proper and its major tributaries.
  • Identify and label the major tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.
  • List and Label examples of major cities found on the Bay and its tributaries.

Instructions:

  1. Insure your group has the correct map, markers and a computer with internet. At this time, open up Google Earth and locate the Chesapeake Bay.
  1. Expand the “Boarders and Labels” option under the Layers sidebar on the left.
  2. Expand “Borders” and make sure all are checked except Country Names and International Borders.
  3. Expand “Labels” and check Populated Places, Islands and Water Bodies.
  1. Begin labeling the Chesapeake Bay tributaries by using Google Earth, Google Maps, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation website Tributary Map ( You may have to zoom in to see some cities in Google Earth. Click on the city name for population and information.
  2. What are the three largest tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay?
  • Locate each of these cities on the tributary listed and label them. Then use Google Earth to find their population:
  • Susquehanna
  • Harrisburg, PA
  • Population: 48,950
  • Binghamton, NY
  • Population: 47,380
  • Choptank
  • Cambridge, MD
  • Population: 10,911
  • Denton, MD
  • Population: 2,960
  • Nanticoke
  • Nanticoke, MD
  • Population: unavailable
  • Wicomico
  • Salisbury, MD
  • Population: 23,743
  • James
  • Newport News, VA
  • Population: 193,172
  • Richmond, VA (near)
  • Population: 204,451
  • York
  • Yorktown, VA
  • Population: 220
  • West Point, VA
  • Population: 2,866
  • Williamsburg, VA (near)
  • Population: 11,998
  • Rappahannock
  • Tappahannock, VA
  • Population: 2,068
  • Potomac
  • Alexandria, VA
  • Population: 143,885
  • Washington, DC
  • Population: 599,657
  • Patuxent
  • Columbia, MD
  • Population: 88,254
  • What other major cities are found on the Bay?
  • Norfolk, VA
  • Population: 233,333
  • Hampton, VA
  • Population: 145,579
  • Annapolis, MD
  • Population: 36,524
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Population: 637,418
  • What City is home to the source of the Chesapeake Bay?
  • Havre de Grace, MD
  • Population: 11,331
  • What City is home to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay?
  • Virginia Beach, VA
  • Population: 433,575