TheChamplain Valley is a region of theUnited States aroundLake Champlain inVermont andNew York extending north slightly intoQuebec,Canada. It is part of theSt. Lawrence Riverdrainage basin, drained northward by theRichelieu River into the St. Lawrence atSorel-Tracy, Quebec (northeast ofMontreal). The Richelieu valley is not generally referred to as part of the Champlain Valley.
The Champlain Lake Valley is the most heavily populated region in Vermont, broadly stretching eastward from the lake's shore to the base of theGreen Mountains. The state's largest city,Burlington, is located on the lake, and the city'sassociated suburban communities encompass part of the central section of the valley. Beyond urbanizedChittenden County, however, the valley's landscape is primarily open pasture and row crops, making the Champlain Valley the most productive agricultural region of Vermont.
The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions ofClinton County andEssex County. Most of this area is part of theAdirondack Park, offering tremendous views of theAdirondack High Peaks region and many recreational opportunities in the park and along the relatively undeveloped coast line of Lake Champlain. The city ofPlattsburgh is to the north, and the historic town ofTiconderoga is in the southern part of the region. The northern part ofLake George is located at, and near Ticonderoga, and therefore is a part of the Champlain Valley.
The Champlain Valley is among the northernmost valleys considered part of theGreat Appalachian Valley reaching from Canada toAlabama.
The Champlain Valley is aphysiographic section of the largerSaint Lawrence Valley province, which in turn is part of the largerAppalachian physiographic division.[1] In Vermont, the Champlain Valley is equivalent to the Vermont Lowlands physiographic region,[2] and extends southward into the Valley of Vermont.[2] The Vermont Lowlands are primarily underlain by sedimentary rocks, especiallylimestone andshale, though metamorphic rocks such asmarble andslate are also present.[2]
Lake Champlain is situated in the Champlain Valley between theGreen Mountains ofVermont and theAdirondack Mountains ofNew York, drained northward by theRichelieu River into theSt. Lawrence River atSorel-Tracy,Quebec (northeast ofMontreal). Major tributaries of Lake Champlain includeOtter Creek and theWinooski,Missisquoi, andLamoille rivers in Vermont, and theAusable,Chazy,Boquet, andSaranac rivers in New York. Lake Champlain also receives water fromLake George via theLa Chute River
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44°27′31″N73°25′34″W / 44.45868°N 73.42617°W /44.45868; -73.42617
