Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain is a natural freshwater lake in North America along the borders of New York and Vermont and partially across the United States-Canada border in the province of Quebec. The lake was named for the French explorer Samuel de Champlain, who came there in 1609.

Lake Champlain Lac Champlain
Lake Champlain near Burlington during sunset
Location	New York / Vermont in USA; and Quebec in Canada
Coordinates	44°32′N 73°20′W
Primary inflows	Otter Creek, Winooski River, Missisquoi River, Poultney River, Lamoille River, Ausable River, Chazy River, Boquet River, Saranac River, La Chute River
Primary outflows	Richelieu River
Catchment area	8,234 sq mi (21,326 km2)
Basin countries	Canada, United States
Max. length	125 mi (201 km)
Max. width	14 mi (23 km)
Surface area	490 sq mi (1,269 km2)
Average depth	64 ft (19.5 m)
Max. depth	400 ft (122 m)
Water volume	6.2 cu mi (25.8 km3)
Residence time	3.3 years
Shore length1	587 mi (945 km)
Surface elevation	95 to 100 ft (29 to 30 m)
Islands	80 (Grand Isle, North Hero, Isle La Motte, see list)
Settlements	Burlington, Vermont; Plattsburgh, New York
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

A region of large freshwater lakes

Lake Champlain is one of a large number of large lakes spread in an arc from Labrador through the northern United States and into the Northwest Territories of Canada. Although it is much smaller than the Great Lakes of Ontario, Erie, Huron, Superior, or Michigan, Lake Champlain is a large body of fresh water. The lake is about 490 square miles (1,269 km²) in area. It is about 125 miles (201 km) long. At its widest point, it is about 14 miles (23 km) wide. The maximum depth is about 400 feet (120 m). It contains about 80 islands, including the entirety of Vermont's Grand Isle County.

Colonial America and the Revolutionary War

In the colonial times, Lake Champlain gave an easily blocked water (or, in winter, ice) passage between the Saint Lawrence and the Hudson Valleys. Boats and sledges were usually preferable to the unpaved and frequently mud-bound roads of the time. The northern tip of the lake at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec (St. John in colonial times) is a short distance from Montreal. The southern tip at Whitehall (Skenesborough in colonial times) is a short distance from Saratoga, Glens Falls, and Albany, New York.

Forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point (Fort St. Frederic) controlled passage of the lake in colonial times. Important battles were fought at Ticonderoga in 1758 and 1777. A important naval battle was fought in 1776 at Valcour Island: in the Battle of Valcour Island, Benedict Arnold delayed British ships enough to prevent the fall of these forts until the following year, allowing the Continental Army to grow stronger and allowing the later victory at Saratoga.

Other websites

Media related to Lake Champlain at Wikimedia Commons