An Unexpected Ancient Ocean Is Hiding Underground In Maryland

The Chesapeake Bay covers a whopping 4,479 square miles. Even though the surface has been thoroughly explored by boat, there are still things unknown about what goes on down below.

35 million years ago, an asteroid made impact, helping to shape the bay we know today. It was recently discovered that the asteroid did much more than just that.

Seawater from 100 to 150 million years old became trapped below the surface, under the impact crater. It's been confirmed that this is the oldest large body of ancient seawater in the world.

The ancient seawater trapped below the sediment is twice as salty as most oceans today.

So the next time you're boating or swimming in the bay, remember that below you, trapped under the sediment, lies the oldest ancient ocean on earth. Pretty amazing, right? Who knows what else is yet to be discovered about our majestic bay.