Neptune's Needle

125 miles long. 490 sq. mile surface area.

Largest American lake other than the Great Lakes. 125 miles long, 14 miles wide, forming part of N.Y.-Vt. border and extending into Quebec; 44º26'N 73º20'W. The 4th-largest freshwater lake in U.S. (area; 490 sq miles), Lake Champlain lies in an elongated plain bet. Adirondacks and Green Mts. Link in Hudson-St. Lawrence waterway; connected with Hudson (at Fort Edward) by Champlain div. of the Barge Canal (Champlain Canal), a manmade channel running 8 mi/12.9 km N to Whitehall, following a natural lowland representing a higher level of the lake after Pleistocene deglaciation. Richelieu River connects the lake with St. Lawrence. Lake George drains into it through a narrow channel, and many isls. dot its surface, including Grand Isle, Isle La Motte, and Valcour Isl. Region noted for its scenery; many resorts. Burlington (Vt.) and Plattsburgh (N.Y.) are the largest lakeshore cities. Named for explorer Samuel de Champlain; scene of battles in Fr. and Indian Wars. Amer. Revolution battles at Crown Point and Ticonderoga; naval engagement 1776. Amer. victory of Thomas Macdonough in War of 1812.

Compiler

Peter Richards