Is the Chesapeake Bay salty?
Depending on where you are in the Chesapeake Bay, the water might be very salty or not salty at all. That’s because the Bay is an estuary—a place where freshwater meets salty water. Near the mouths of the major rivers, like the Susquehanna, it’s freshwater. But near the mouth of the Bay, where the Bay meets the ocean, it’s extremely salty. The salinity (or amount of salt) of the Bay can change depending on certain things. If there hasn’t been a lot of rain one season, the Bay is saltier than normal. If there has been a lot of rain, the water is less salty. Also, if you measure the level of salt all the way at the bottom of the Bay, it will be higher than it is closer to the top.
