Salish Sea History, Facts & Formation

When the Salish Sea is spoken of, it usually elicits blank stares. When a picture is shown, nearly everyone recognizes the fish-hook-shaped crescent of water consisting of the Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound that caps the northwest corner of Washington State. Wrapped around Vancouver Island, British Columbia, it’s only been officially and legally designated as a sea since 2010. The actual waterway has existed for thousands of years and has witnessed both natural wonders and the growth of modern civilization in its time.

Chesapeake Bay History & the Meteor That Formed the Groundwater

Close to multiple metropolitan centers and abutting the nation’s capital, Chesapeake Bay operates today as a major tourist attraction, but its past includes a varied and often colorful series of events. As the biggest estuary in the United States, it offers visitors 11,684 miles of winding coastline to explore. Travelers experience everything from boating to catching the famous blue crabs of the bay.

Formation of Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay has its origins in the warm environment of the late Eocene epoch. Around 35 million years ago, a bolidea meteor radiating twice the light of a full moonslammed into the ground between what is now Virginia and Delaware. The resulting Chesapeake Bay meteor crater measured 53 miles in diameter and eight-tenths of a mile in depth. With a newly formed basin, surrounding rivers diverted their courses and created a single channel that dug an impressive river valley over the subsequent millennia. The currently recognizable Chesapeake Bay formation has only been around for about 12,000 years, created when sea levels rose from melting glaciers and submerged the river valley. Surprisingly, the meteor’s havoc continues to this day. Bedrock fractured by the impact often allows deeper saltwater to seep into freshwater aquifers. These same fractures also cause surrounding land to slowly slide down into the ancient crater. Additionally, in 2013 while scientists were studying the impact crater, they discovered “the oldest large body of ancient seawater in the world,” early Cretaceous seawater, resting about a half-mile underground near the bay. It is estimated that the water is between 100 million and 150 million years old.

About Cape Cod - Formation & History

As one of the most iconic geographic formations on the Eastern seaboard of the United States, Cape Cod has played a role in North American history since the earliest colonial period. Physically, the cape appears like the arm of a bodybuilder in a biceps-flexing pose as it juts out from the southeast corner of Massachusetts. Due to its moderate climate and close proximity to major metropolitan centers, it’s a favorite destination of tourists to this day.

Puget Sound 3D Nautical Wood Chart – Perfect Gift for Boaters & Sailors

As beautiful as it is ecologically complex, Puget Sound is a favorite destination of boaters, travelers, explorers and romantics. Whether they've seen the area from aboard a ferry or atop a kayak, many ocean enthusiasts wish they could bring just a bit of this special place home. It might seem impossible to contain the majesty of the Puget Sound in a small frame, but that's exactly what this 3D nautical wood chart does. Featuring stunning detail and sleek styling, this laser-etched representation of the area is a must-have for anyone who's fallen in love with Puget Sound.

Fun Facts About the Great Lakes – Shipwrecks & Mysteries

The Shapes of Lake Superior

The Great Lakes are a series of interconnected freshwater lakes located in North America along the Canadian border. Created by melt water around 14,000 years ago as a glacier moved across the land and carved out the beginning of the great lakes, they are now the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth. As we marvel at their beauty and mystery, we have compiled some of our favorite findings to share with you.

Over 6,000 shipwrecks are buried beneath the waters of the Great Lakes, and with 14,000 years of history, we wonder what else they are hiding. The cold water of the lakes has aided in the preservation of the wrecks for over a hundred years.

Nail the Decor for a Nautical Party – Ideas & Inspiration

Whether it's for an adult gathering or a child's birthday party, a nautical theme is lighthearted and fun. Pulling off a nautical look is all about setting up the right backdrop and choosing decorative accents that speak to life on the water. If you're wondering how to throw a themed party that fits the nautical bill, here's everything you need to know.

Create a Backdrop for Your Nautical Party
Setting the stage for your nautical party is all about getting the big atmospheric details right. You might opt for a serene outdoorsy setting with sand and seashells, but nothing says nautical like navy blue and white. Choose linens, streamers, banners, ropes, tablecloths and paper lanterns in bold blues and crisp, clean whites. Textiles and other decor elements with horizontal stripes are particularly nautical and add visual interest to any party space.

Nautical Decorating Ideas

A nautical decor scheme brings the beauty, thrill and romance of the open waters into your home. Grounded by broad stripes and bold blues, it's a theme that's classic and contemporary all at once. Nautical decor goes well in practically any home, and the look is easy to pull off. Here are some pointers to help you transform your space into a nautical paradise.

Nautical Home Decor: The Basics
Crisp white walls form the backdrop for many nautical decor schemes. If you're painting your walls to match the theme, opt for a crisp white instead of a warmer beige. If your walls are already beige, avoid hanging bright white wall art or nautical accessories, as these can make your walls and decor appear mismatched. Of course, wood paneling can also work well to communicate a nautical theme. Accentuate darker wood paneling with white life preservers and ship accessories.