Champlain Valley

Understand

This region borders Lake Champlain which is a large, fresh water lake stretching over 100 miles in length and nearly 12 miles wide at its broadest point. Named for French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, it divides New York State and Vermont, and stretches north across the Canadian border into Quebec province. After the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain is the next largest fresh water lake in the United States. Flowing south to north, the lake is connected to the Richelieu River in the north (flows into the St. Lawrence River near Montreal), and to the south Lake Champlain connects to the Champlain Canal, and by extension the Hudson River. Lake Champlain is therefore connected to the Atlantic Ocean indirectly at both extremities. Exceeding 400 feet deep at its most profound, the lake nevertheless freezes solid in many areas during the dead of winter. The principal cities on Lake Champlain are Burlington, Vermont and Plattsburgh, New York. Ferries and bridges allow automobiles to cross the lake at various points.

Cities

• Burlington
• Colchester
• Essex (Vermont)
• Jericho
• Keeseville
• Middlebury
• Milton
• Port Henry
• Richmond
• Rouses Point
• South Burlington
• South Hero
• Williston
• Winooski

Go next

Some New York cities are easily accessible by ferry across the lake.

• Crown Point
• Essex (New York)
• Plattsburgh, NY
• Westport, NY
• Willsboro, NY