Tangier Sound
Encyclopedia
Tangier Sound is a sound
of the Chesapeake Bay
bounded on the west by Tangier Island in Virginia
, and Smith Island
and South Marsh Island in Maryland
, by Deal Island
in Maryland
on the north, and the mainland of the Eastern Shore of Maryland
and Pocomoke Sound
on the east. It stretches into Virginia
as far south as Watts Island.
The Manokin
, Big Annemessex
, and Little Annemessex Rivers all flow into Tangier Sound from Somerset County, Maryland
.
Crisfield, Maryland
, located on Tangier Sound, was a center of the shellfish industry. Like the rest of the Chesapeake Bay, the fishing industry on Tangier Sound has declined markedly due to pollution and overfishing
.
Several Maryland wildlife management areas border Tangier Sound: South Marsh Island
, Deal Island
, Fairmount
, and Cedar Island
areas.
Sound (geography)
In geography a sound or seaway is a large sea or ocean inlet larger than a bay, deeper than a bight and wider than a fjord; or it may be defined as a narrow sea or ocean channel between two bodies of land ....
of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
bounded on the west by Tangier Island in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and Smith Island
Smith Island, Maryland
Smith Island is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, United States. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and South Marsh Island in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, by Deal Island
Deal Island, Maryland
Deal Island is a census-designated place in Somerset County, Maryland, United States. The population was 578 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
on the north, and the mainland of the Eastern Shore of Maryland
Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
and Pocomoke Sound
Pocomoke Sound
Pocomoke Sound is a bay of the Chesapeake Bay that forms part of the boundary between the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia. The Pocomoke River is the largest stream feeding into the Sound, which is bounded by Somerset County, Maryland on the north, Worcester County, Maryland, Accomack...
on the east. It stretches into Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
as far south as Watts Island.
The Manokin
Manokin River
Manokin River is a river in Somerset County, Maryland, that flows into Tangier Sound, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. The Manokin rises east of Princess Anne, Maryland, flows through the town, then widens into a tidal estuary. Tributaries along the river's length are Kings Creek, Back Creek, St....
, Big Annemessex
Big Annemessex River
The Big Annemessex River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay on the Delmarva Peninsula. It rises in Kingston, Somerset County, Maryland, and flows roughly southwest about in a meandering pattern, then widens into an estuary and continues about to the bay, near Janes Island State Park...
, and Little Annemessex Rivers all flow into Tangier Sound from Somerset County, Maryland
Somerset County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*53.5% White*42.3% Black*0.3% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.5% Other races*3.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
Crisfield, Maryland
Crisfield, Maryland
Crisfield is a city in Somerset County, Maryland, United States, located on the Tangier Sound, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. The population was 2,723 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, located on Tangier Sound, was a center of the shellfish industry. Like the rest of the Chesapeake Bay, the fishing industry on Tangier Sound has declined markedly due to pollution and overfishing
Overfishing
Overfishing occurs when fishing activities reduce fish stocks below an acceptable level. This can occur in any body of water from a pond to the oceans....
.
Several Maryland wildlife management areas border Tangier Sound: South Marsh Island
South Marsh Wildlife Management Area
South Marsh Island Wildlife Management Area is a Wildlife Management Area in Somerset County, Maryland.-External links:*...
, Deal Island
Deal Island Wildlife Management Area
Deal Island Wildlife Management Area protects in western Somerset County near the community of Deal Island. As a wildlife management area, the area is...
, Fairmount
Fairmount Wildlife Management Area
Fairmount Wildlife Management Area is a Wildlife Management Area in Somerset County, Maryland.-External links:*...
, and Cedar Island
Cedar Island Wildlife Management Area
Cedar Island Wildlife Management Area is a Wildlife Management Area in Somerset County, Maryland near Crisfield.-External links:*...
areas.