The Cliffs of Calvert dominate the shoreline for 30 miles along the coast of Calvert County and remain as impressive a sight today as they were in 1608 when Captain John Smith came upon them as "Rickard Cliffs." Formed over 15 million years ago when all of Southern Maryland was covered by water, these ancient sea floors are now being carved by wind and waves into the scenic cliffs seen today. More than 600 species of fossils have been taken from the cliffs and identified, most abundantly the teeth of various species of sharks.