The debate over whether Lake Champlain is hydrologically part of the Great Lakes system primarily revolves around its unique geographical position and distinct hydrological characteristics. This article explores the historical, geographical, and hydrological reasons why Lake Champlain is not classified as one of the Great Lakes, despite its ecological significance and size.

Introduction

While Lake Champlain and the five Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) are often grouped together due to their shared experiences of glaciation, geological history, and similar watershed challenges, they are fundamentally different bodies of water with separate hydrological basins. This article discusses these differences in detail.

Historical Background

During the last ice age, the glaciers carved out several large lakes in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, including the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. However, these lakes eventually formed distinct hydrological systems due to the geographical and geological processes that shaped them.

Geographical Differences

Location: Lake Champlain is situated primarily between the states of New York and Vermont, with a small portion extending into Quebec, Canada. The Great Lakes, on the other hand, are entirely within the borders of the United States, encompassing the states of Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, as well as Ontario and Quebec in Canada.

Waterway Connections: Lake Champlain connects to the Great Lakes via the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River. However, these connections do not form a continuous hydrological basin. The Great Lakes, by contrast, form a single interconnected system, allowing water to flow freely between the lakes without geographical barriers.

Hydrological Characteristics

Watershed and Drainage: The watershed of Lake Champlain is distinct from that of the Great Lakes. Lake Champlain drains into the Lake Champlain Basin Drainage, which eventually feeds into the Saint Lawrence River. This system is not part of the Great Lakes hydrological cycle. Conversely, the Great Lakes collectively form a vast interconnected system, sharing a single drainage basin through a series of rivers, lakes, and canals.

Size and Significance

Relative Size: Lake Champlain covers an area of approximately 1,269 square miles (3,290 square kilometers), making it about 1/15th the size of the smallest of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario (18,960 square kilometers). Despite its ecological significance and economic importance, its size alone is not enough to classify it as a Great Lake.

Comparison with Other Large Lakes: Other large lakes, such as Lake Nipigon (4,848 square kilometers), are much larger than Lake Champlain and still do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the Great Lakes system. Lake Nipigon, while smaller than Lake Ontario, is still four times the size of Lake Champlain and clearly falls within the Great Lakes system by any definition.

Conclusion

In summary, Lake Champlain is a unique and important body of water with its own hydrological characteristics and drainage system. While it shares historical significance, geographical proximity, and even some waterway connections with the Great Lakes, it does not meet the criteria to be considered a part of the Great Lakes system.

The classification of lakes as Great Lakes is not solely based on size or geographical proximity but rather on the hydrological and ecological factors that define their systems. Therefore, Lake Champlain remains a separate and distinct body of water, deserving of its own classification and conservation efforts.