1. Lake Champlain is 120 Miles in Length

Lake Champlain is about 120 miles long and 12 miles in width at its widest point. It reaches Vermont, New York, and Canada and even gets all the way down to 400ft at its deepest point.

2. Lake Champlain was once the Sixth Great Lake

President Clinton declared Lake Champlain the sixth Great Lake on March 6th, 1998. Most of the country disagreed with the decision and convinced Clinton to rescind the title only a couple of weeks later, on March 24th, 1998.

3. There are 71 Islands throughout Lake Champlain

These range from tiny remote islands to larger islands with towns. The three largest islands are towns that include: South Hero/Grand Isle, North Hero, and Isle La Motte.

4. Lake Champlain is Home to the Oldest Reef in the world.

The Chazy Reef is a fossil reef in Isle La Motte, Vermont, that spans over 1,567 acres and is over 480 million years old. As a National Natural Landmark, the reef is viewable to the public at the Goodsell Ridge Fossil Preserve and the Fisk Quarry Reserve.

5. Lake Champlain Holds over 90 species of fish. 

Over 90 species of fish live in the waters of Lake Champlain. It’s considered a frontline fishery for two species in particular: salmonid species (lake trout and salmon) and bass. Bassmaster magazine even named Lake Champlain the fourth best lake in the region for fishing in 2021!

6. It was the Location of the Battle of Plattsburgh.

The lake was a vital part in many battles and wars. The Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, took place during the War of 1812 and prevented the British from invading New York.

7. Lake Champlain has a 14-Mile Long Recreational Trail

The Island Line Trail takes you from Burlington, Vermont to the Lake Champlain Islands. Historically, the trail was not meant for recreational use. It was built in 1899 by the Rutland-Canadian Railroad for coastal market connections. Eventually, in the 1980s, the railroad was converted into a recreational path.

If you found these facts interesting, learn more about Lake Champlain here!

 

The Northwest Vermont REALTOR® Association (NVRA) has released its market statistics for July 2022. The information is derived from data contained in the New England Real Estate Network and covers Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties.

The U.S. housing market has continued to cool, as rising mortgage rates and record-high sales prices have stifled affordability, weakening demand and pricing out a multitude of buyers. Nationally, median household income has failed to keep pace with increasing mortgage payments, with the costs of buying a home about 80% more expensive now than they were just three summers ago, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). As more and more prospective buyers find their home purchase plans delayed, many are turning to the rental market, where competition has intensified due to increased demand.

New Listings decreased 32.5 percent for single-family homes and 41.7 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Pending Sales decreased 30.0 percent for single-family homes and 30.1 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Inventory decreased 22.4 percent for single-family homes and 49.3 percent for townhouse-condo properties.

The Median Sales Price was up 9.3 percent to $437,000 for single-family homes and 24.3 percent to $360,500 for townhouse-condo properties. Days on Market decreased 48.0 percent for single-family homes but increased 69.2 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 11.1 percent for single-family homes and 36.4 percent for townhouse-condo properties.

At a time of year when homebuying activity is typically very strong, soaring homeownership costs have caused home sales to decline nationwide for the fifth consecutive month, with existing-home sales falling 5.4% month-to-month and 14.2% year-over-year as of last measure, according to NAR. But there is a bright spot. Inventory of existing homes has continued to climb this summer, with 1.26 million homes available at the beginning of July, equivalent to a 3 months’ supply. And despite the summer slowdown, homes are still selling quickly, with the typical home staying on market an average of 14 days.

Do you have questions about the current market? We're here to help. Contact us today.

Are you curious about Vermont’s largest lake, Lake Champlain? At Coldwell Banker Islands Realty, we breathe the Lake Champlain lifestyle and are here to share more information about the beautiful Lake Champlain region. Discover how the lake got its name, its battles, how many islands it contains, and other interesting facts.

• Lake Champlain History

Home to the oldest reef in the world, Lake Champlain is full of history. The Chazy Reef, a fossil reef in Isle La Motte, Vermont, spans over 1,567 acres and is over 480 million years old. This National Natural Landmark is viewable to the public at the Goodsell Ridge Fossil Preserve and the Fisk Quarry Reserve.

Lake Champlain was first discovered in 1609 by French explorer Samuel De Champlain, hence the name. Still, there are records of multiple names given by indigenous tribes, such as the Iroquois and Abenaki. 

The lake was a vital part of many battles and wars throughout the next couple of hundred years. During the Revolutionary War, Lake Champlain played a crucial role in shipbuilding, colony movement, and naval battles. The Battle of Lake Champlain, also known as the Battle of Plattsburgh, took place during the War of 1812 and prevented the British from invading New York. This battle was quite significant as it stopped the last invasion of the northern states by the British.

Shipwrecks dating back to the 18th century can be found in Lake Champlain. You can even go diving to see some of them through the Vermont Underwater Historic Preserves. 

• Lake Champlain Facts

Lake Champlain is about 120 miles long and 12 miles wide at its widest point. Even though the average depth is 64ft, the deepest point reaches down to 400 feet. There are 71 islands throughout Lake Champlain. These range from tiny remote islands to larger islands with towns and full-time residents. Three are state parks: Knight, Woods, and Burton Island. There are also vacation rental opportunities out on Butler Island. The three largest islands are towns that include: South Hero/Grand Isle, North Hero, and Isle La Motte. Approximately 200,000 people use Lake Champlain as their home’s water source.

• Fish and Wildlife

Over 90 species of fish live in the waters of Lake Champlain. It’s considered a frontline fishery for two species: salmonid species (lake trout and salmon) and bass. Bassmaster magazine even named Lake Champlain the fourth-best lake in the region for fishing in 2021!

There are over 318 bird species that live near or around Lake Champlain! The state's second most productive waterfowl site is located right in the marshes around The Sandbar Causeway. 

Another form of life is believed to live beneath the surface of Lake Champlain. The mythical lake monster, Champ, is a creature similar to the Loch Ness Monster that some believe is living in the depths of the waters. There are reports of Champ sightings as early as the 17th century.

• Travel

Lake Champlain plays an essential role in travel for everyone. Two ferries travel year-round between New York and Vermont, making it easy to commute for recreational or work purposes.

In 2022, Burlington welcomed back a commuter rail service between Burlington and New York City. The Burlington Union Station is located right on Main Street. The Rutland-Canadian Railroad ended its use in 1962 and was developed into a public trail for bicyclists and pedestrians. The trail runs along the shores of Lake Champlain, offering a unique recreational experience.

You can easily travel to the Lake Champlain Islands by the causeway that connects the Vermont mainland to the island of South Hero. Multiple bridges connect the different island towns and to the mainland of Swanton and New York State.

• Fun Facts

You've heard of the five Great Lakes of North America, but did you know there used to be a sixth? On March 6th, 1998, President Clinton declared Lake Champlain the sixth Great Lake. Despite the bill being signed, the title for Lake Champlain didn’t last long. Many countries ended up disagreeing with the decision and wanted the status rescinded. So, only a couple weeks later, on March 24th, 1998, President Clinton did as the public wished, and Lake Champlain was no longer a Great Lake. Even though it’s not official anymore, the “Sixth Great Lake” nickname has stuck with the lake.

Lake Champlain is full of history, life, and adventure. If you want to learn more about life on Lake Champlain, our Realtors are here to help.