Part of our region’s community is Lake Champlain.  490 square miles, it is the sixth largest body of fresh water in the United States.

In 2009 we will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Samuel de Champlain from which the lake gets its name. Mark you calendar to join us in July 2009, and through the summer, for all the events. You can find out more at the official Web site (www.CelebrateChamplain.org).

Approximately 108 miles long, 12 miles across at its widest point, and with a depth of approximately 399 feet, the lake flows north from Whitehall, New York and drains into the St. Lawrence River via the Richelieu River in Quebec. 

Towns and cities on the shores of Lake Champlain offer opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, scuba diving, and paddling.  Our largest city on Lake Champlain is Burlington.  With a thriving waterfront, an aquarium and many choices for dining and live entertainment. Travel a few miles north or south, and you will find wide open pastures gently rolling to the lakes edge with cottages, boat rentals and the peace and quiet of Vermont’s natural heritage.

Lake Champlain’s fishery includes landlocked Atlantic salmon, lake and brown trout, northern pike, walleye, crappie and bass. It is known for its small- and large-mouth bass fishing opportunities. During a recent tournament, pro bass fisherman Clark Wendlandt, a three-time Forrest L. Wood (FLW) Tour champion, stated,  “It's the best fishery I've ever fished. We get to good lakes all over the country, but there’s no place even close. If you polled the 200 pros who fished in this tournament, you'd get the same answer from 198 of them."

Sailing is rewarding on Lake Champlain. With prevailing winds averaging 10 knots and steady out of the north-northwest, Champlain is a perfect spot for sailing or gunkhole style cruising, with a number of charter boat services operating in and near Burlington. On days when the wind kicks up, sailboarding enthusiasts skim along the waves.

Lake Champlain is also home to the New York/Vermont Underwater Historic Preserve (UHP), a collection of eight historic wrecks at depths from 30 to 110 feet. The UHP is one of America’s most significant repositories of preserved, signed, historic ships, and is a mecca for scuba divers. Permits are required, so for more information, visit www.lcmm.org.