SPACEPHOTOS

Chesapeake Bay, Norfolk, Virginia April 1998 The entrance into Chesapeake Bay and the Norfolk Metropolitan area can be seen in this south-southwest-looking view. The southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula and Cape Charles are visible near the bottom center of the image. The 18 mile (29 km) Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel complex traverses across Chesapeake Bay to just east of Norfolk. Cape Henry is visible to the bridge’s east (left). Norfolk, Virginia’s second largest city is bordered to the north by the Chesapeake Bay, to the northwest by Hampton Roads Harbor, and to the south-southwest by the Great Dismal Swamp (dark area towards the upper right). The city is the business, commercial, financial, cultural, and medical center of this region. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population lives within 750 miles (1208 km) of Norfolk. Norfolk’s Harbor is called Hampton Roads and it is located where Chesapeake Bay, Elizabeth River, James River, and the Nansemond River meet. Hampton Roads is one of the largest, naturally deep, ice-free harbors in the world. The port traditionally handles more foreign waterborne commerce than any other United States port facility. Norfolk is also home to the largest Naval installation in the world