Lake Champlain

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