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Beautiful Lake
Champlain, stretching south from Quebec and dividing New York and
Vermont, has justifiably been called the most historic body of water
in North America.
  Lake
Champlain has long been part of an important waterway passage
between the St. Lawrence and Hudson Rivers. Flowing south to north,
the lake stretches some 120 miles from its beginning at
Whitehall, New York to the Richelieu River in Quebec.
The first European to
discover the lake was
Samuel de Champlain in 1609. Champlain claimed the waterway and
the virgin forested lands surrounding it for his sovereign, setting
in motion a long conflict between France and Great Britain.
Lake Champlain,
together with Lake George, played
a crucial role in the early history of the United States and Canada.
Due largely to its strategic importance as the only navigable
passage between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, many important
forts were built and several critical battles were fought upon its
shores. Among these are some of the most storied names in colonial
history- Ticonderoga,
Crown Point, and
Valcour Island to name
but a few. The lake also figured prominently during the War of 1812,
culminating in the Battle of
Plattsburgh (also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain).
 Once
these early conflicts ended the lake lost its strategic importance
to military planners. During the mid-nineteenth century the lake
became a vital transportation corridor for all sorts of cargo,
especially after canals were constructed on both ends of the lake.
Sailing vessels gave way to steamboats, which eventually were
replaced by the railroads. As the lake became less important for
commercial carriage, it became a recreational haven.
Today, Lake
Champlain, together with Lake George to the south, is an important
recreational playground for millions. The lake faces challenges
brought upon by it by increased recreational use and population
growth but
it retains its appeal and natural beauty.
 Lake
Champlain Facts:
Elevation: 95.5 feet above sea level
Length: 120 miles
Width: 12 miles at widest point
Drains: South to north into the Richelieu River at
Rouses Point, New York
Number of islands: Over 70
Maximum depth: 400 feet, average depth is 64 feet.
Shoreline: 587 miles- New York, Vermont and Quebec |
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Copyright © 2006 America's Historic Lakes
Images of Lake Champlain
Aerial photos courtesy of Doug Harwood
(Click on the thumbnails to see a full-size image)
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