2016 Map of Chesapeake Channel

About this map

Chesapeake Bay is defined here by the massive engineering of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which spans the mouth of the bay where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. This map documents the complex intersection of deep-water transit and shallow maritime hazards. The Chesapeake Channel and the Chesapeake Channel Tunnel facilitate heavy shipping, while the surrounding waters are marked by significant sandbanks and shallows. These include Middle Ground, Inner Middle Ground, White Shoal, and Nine Foot Shoal. The path of the Intracoastal Waterway cuts through the western portion of the sheet, and the North Channel is visible to the northeast. The boundary for Northampton Co traverses the open water, illustrating the political division of these vital coastal waters.