Which state borders the Chesapeake Bay -- Maryland or Illinois?

Maryland is the correct answer because it has a significant coastline along the Chesapeake Bay, which is a major estuary located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The bay serves as an important geographical feature, dividing Maryland and Virginia, though Maryland has the larger portion of its coastline along it. This body of water plays a crucial role in the state’s economy, ecology, and culture, facilitating activities such as fishing, boating, and tourism.

Illinois, on the other hand, is located in the Midwest and is bordered by different bodies of water, including Lake Michigan, but it does not have any coastline along the Chesapeake Bay. The other options, Virginia and Pennsylvania, do touch the Chesapeake Bay but do not directly answer the question regarding which state has a significant portion of its shores along the bay like Maryland does.