| Lake Champlain (French: lac Champlain) is
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| | with Ontario, Erie, Huron, Superior, or
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| a large lake in North America, mostly
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| | Michigan, Lake Champlain is a large body
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| within the borders of the United States
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| | of fresh water. Approximately 1130 km2
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| (states of Vermont and New York) but
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| | (435 square miles) in area, the lake is
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| partially situated across the US-Canada
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| | roughly 180 km (110 miles) long, and 19
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| border in the province of Quebec.
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| | km (12 miles) across at its widest point.
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| The lake was named for the French
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| | The maximum depth is approximately 400
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| explorer Samuel de Champlain, who
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| | feet. It contains roughly 80 islands,
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| encountered it in 1609.
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| | including an entire county in Vermont.
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| It is the sixth-largest[verification
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| | Colonial America and the Revolutionary
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| needed] natural, freshwater lake in the
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| | War
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| contiguous United States, situated in the
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| | In colonial times, Lake Champlain
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| Champlain Valley between the Green
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| | provided an easily traversed water (or,
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| Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondack
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| | in winter, ice) passage between the Saint
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| Mountains of New York, drained northward
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| | Lawrence and the Hudson Valleys. Boats
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| by the Richelieu River into the St.
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| | and sledges were usually preferable to
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| Lawrence River near Montreal and fed by
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| | the unpaved and frequently mud-bound
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| Otter Creek, the Winooski, Missisquoi,
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| | roads of the time. The northern tip of
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| and Lamoille Rivers in Vermont, and the
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| | the lake at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu,
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| Au Sable, Chazy, Boquet, and Saranac
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| | Quebec (St. John in colonial times) is a
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| Rivers in New York. Lake Champlain also
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| | short distance from Montreal. The
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| receives water from Lake George via the
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| | southern tip at Whitehall (Skenesborough
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| La Chute River.
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| | in colonial times) is a short distance
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| The lake varies seasonally from about 95
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| | from Saratoga, Glens Falls, and Albany,
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| to 100 feet above mean sea level.
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| | New York.
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| While the ports of Burlington, Vermont,
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| | Forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point
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| Port Henry, New York, and Plattsburgh,
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| | (Fort St. Frederic) controlled passage of
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| New York are little used nowadays except
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| | the lake in colonial times. Important
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| by small crafts, ferries and lake cruise
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| | battles were fought at Ticonderoga in
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| ships, they had substantial commercial
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| | 1758 and 1777. A significant naval battle
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| and military importance in the 18th and
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| | was fought in 1776 at Valcour Island: in
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| 19th Century.
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| | the Battle of Valcour Island, Benedict
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| A region of large freshwater lakes
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| | Arnold delayed British ships enough to
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| Lake Champlain is one of a large number
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| | prevent the fall of these forts until the
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| of large lakes spread in an arc from
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| | following year, allowing the Continental
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| Labrador through the northern United
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| | Army to grow stronger and enabling the
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| States and into the Northwest Territories
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| | later victory at Saratoga.
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| of Canada. Although it cannot be compared
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