Massachusetts Bay

Massachusetts Bay is an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of eastern Massachusetts, extending from Cape Ann to Cape Cod.

Connect

Cape Ann: A headland in northeastern Massachusetts that projects into the Atlantic Ocean. Its southern shore marks the bay’s northern limit.
Plymouth Colony: An English colony established in 1620 at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. Its settlement began near the southern approach to the bay.
Port of Boston: A major seaport in Boston Harbor serving cargo, passenger, and cruise traffic. It is the principal commercial port on the bay.
Boston Harbor cleanup: A decades-long project that sharply reduced sewage pollution entering Boston Harbor. The cleanup transformed water quality in the bay’s largest harbor.
Cape Cod: A curved peninsula extending east and south from southeastern Massachusetts. Its northern shore bounds the bay to the south.
Massachusetts Bay Colony: An English colony founded in the 17th century around settlements including Boston and Salem. The colony took its name from the coastal inlet beside its principal settlements.
Massachusetts lobster fishery: The commercial harvest of American lobster in Massachusetts coastal waters. Lobster fishing is a prominent use of the bay and nearby waters.
Massachusetts Bay outfall: An offshore wastewater discharge system serving the Greater Boston area. Its location and treatment requirements shape pollution management in the bay.
Boston Harbor: A harbor on the Massachusetts coast formed by a drowned river valley and numerous islands. It is the bay’s principal harbor and the setting for Boston’s waterfront.
Boston: The capital and largest city of Massachusetts, founded by English colonists in 1630. Boston grew on the bay’s western shore and became its leading port.