A Living Lake!
Indigenous Peoples
Lake Champlain was originally known as Pitawbagok to the Abenaki (meaning ‘middle lake,’ ‘lake in between,’ or ‘double lake’) and to the Mohawk as Kaniatarakwà:ronte, supposedly meaning ‘bulging lake’ or ‘door of the country.’
The lake itself is the eastern gateway to Iroquois Confederacy lands, and is the frontier between the traditional lands between the two tribes.
The “New World”
Lake Champlain is named after the French Explorer Samuel de Champlain, who arrived in 1609. Champlain, among other voyages and settlements, is best known for founding the French settlement that is now known as Quebec City.
Revolutionary War
Initially occupied by British forces, rebel leaders quickly realized the strategic importance of the lake. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold lead an attack to capture Fort Ticonderoga, Crown Point and the settlement of Skenesborough, a loyalist settlement. By 1775, American revolutionaries had control of Lake Champlain. The arms they captured in these battles were crucial in the fight for Boston later in the war.
The siege of Quebec and the Battle of Valcour Island are other major battles that took place upon the lake; it has a long history of military importance in early America and many shipwrecks still occupy the lake's depths.
War of 1812
Fought on September 11, 1814 the Battle of Lake Champlain, or The Battle of Plattsburgh as it is sometimes known, was the final blow that ended the British invasion of the northern states during the war. The American victory ensured that the British had no control or leverage over the New England states.
Champ! The Lake Monster
A cousin of the Loch Ness monster, "Champ" lives in the waters of Lake Champlain. 300 sightings have been confirmed throughout the years, dating back to journal entries from Samuel de Champlain and even further back to Indigenous legend.
A string of sightings in the 1980s put Lake Champlain on the map nationally and though the existence of “Champ” is yet to be scientifically confirmed, it is against the law in Vermont to hunt, harm or attack the beast. He likes maple syrup, chocolate, and Ben & Jerry's "Cherry Garcia" flavored ice cream. Please give these treats to your crew so they can pass them along to the monster.
Ecology and Natural History
Lake Champlain is a feature of the Champlain Valley, surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains to the West and Green Mountains in the East. One of the largest fresh water lakes in North America, the lake boasts over 100 species of marine life. It was connected to the Hudson River system by canal in the early 19th century and continues to be a vital natural resource for Vermont, New York and Quebec. Sometimes you'll find salty deckhands who are also part of the natural landscape.
Lake Champlain was originally known as Pitawbagok to the Abenaki (meaning ‘middle lake,’ ‘lake in between,’ or ‘double lake’) and to the Mohawk as Kaniatarakwà:ronte, supposedly meaning ‘bulging lake’ or ‘door of the country.’
The lake itself is the eastern gateway to Iroquois Confederacy lands, and is the frontier between the traditional lands between the two tribes.
The “New World”
Lake Champlain is named after the French Explorer Samuel de Champlain, who arrived in 1609. Champlain, among other voyages and settlements, is best known for founding the French settlement that is now known as Quebec City.
Revolutionary War
Initially occupied by British forces, rebel leaders quickly realized the strategic importance of the lake. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold lead an attack to capture Fort Ticonderoga, Crown Point and the settlement of Skenesborough, a loyalist settlement. By 1775, American revolutionaries had control of Lake Champlain. The arms they captured in these battles were crucial in the fight for Boston later in the war.
The siege of Quebec and the Battle of Valcour Island are other major battles that took place upon the lake; it has a long history of military importance in early America and many shipwrecks still occupy the lake's depths.
War of 1812
Fought on September 11, 1814 the Battle of Lake Champlain, or The Battle of Plattsburgh as it is sometimes known, was the final blow that ended the British invasion of the northern states during the war. The American victory ensured that the British had no control or leverage over the New England states.
Champ! The Lake Monster
A cousin of the Loch Ness monster, "Champ" lives in the waters of Lake Champlain. 300 sightings have been confirmed throughout the years, dating back to journal entries from Samuel de Champlain and even further back to Indigenous legend.
A string of sightings in the 1980s put Lake Champlain on the map nationally and though the existence of “Champ” is yet to be scientifically confirmed, it is against the law in Vermont to hunt, harm or attack the beast. He likes maple syrup, chocolate, and Ben & Jerry's "Cherry Garcia" flavored ice cream. Please give these treats to your crew so they can pass them along to the monster.
Ecology and Natural History
Lake Champlain is a feature of the Champlain Valley, surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains to the West and Green Mountains in the East. One of the largest fresh water lakes in North America, the lake boasts over 100 species of marine life. It was connected to the Hudson River system by canal in the early 19th century and continues to be a vital natural resource for Vermont, New York and Quebec. Sometimes you'll find salty deckhands who are also part of the natural landscape.