Valcour Island
 | This article includes a list of generalreferences,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(August 2016) |
 Bluff Point Lighton Valcour Island. The steel tower at right held the light from 1930 to 2002. In this photo, it holds anOspreynest. | |
  Valcour Island Location of Valcour Island in New York State | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Champlain |
| Coordinates | 44°37′18″N73°25′02″W/ 44.62167°N 73.41722°W |
| Area | 968 acres (392 ha)[1]: 6 |
| Length | 2 mi (3 km) |
| Width | 1 mi (2 km) |
| Highest elevation | 148 ft (45.1 m)[2] |
| Administration | |
| State | New York |
| County | Clinton |
| Towns | Peru,Plattsburgh |
| Owner | New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |
Valcour Islandis a 968-acre (3.92 km2)[1]: 6 islandinLake ChamplaininClinton County,New York,United States.[2]The island is mostly in theTown of Peruand partly in theTown of Plattsburgh,southeast of theCity of Plattsburgh.It is within the boundaries of theAdirondack Park.
Description[edit]
Valcour Island, about two miles (3.2 km) long and one mile (1.6 km) wide, lies by the western shore of Lake Champlain, forming one side of a narrowstraitagainst theNew Yorkmainland. Its shores are alternately rocky, craggy outcroppings and sandy beaches. Several protected bays provide anchorages. TheBluff Point Lightstands on the western shore. It guided boats through the narrow strait from 1871 until 1930 when it was replaced by a steel tower.
It is the fourth-largest island in Lake Champlain. The only larger Islands areGrand Isle,North HeroandIsle la Motte,all part ofVermont.
The island contains part of an exposedOrdovicianfossil reef, and was dedicated as part of theChazy Fossil ReefNational Natural Landmarkin 2009.[3]
History[edit]
On October 11, 1776, anavalengagement known as theBattle of Valcour IslandbetweenBritishand United States naval forces underBenedict Arnoldwas fought in the strait adjacent to the island.
Valcour was the site of several farms and summer homes (and one short-lived utopian community, the Dawn Valcour Society[4]) from the nineteenth century until the 1970s, when New York State completed its purchase of the island. The island is now within theAdirondack Park,and is managed by theNew York State Department of Environmental Conservationas the "Valcour Island Primitive Area".[1]: 6
References[edit]
- ^abc"Lake Champlain Islands Complex - Draft Unit Management Plan"(PDF).NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. August 2015.RetrievedAugust 7,2016.
- ^ab"Valcour Island".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.RetrievedAugust 7,2016.
- ^"Chazy Fossil Reef".National Natural Landmarks Program.National Park Service. June 28, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 16,2016.
- ^R. C. S. Trahair (1999).Utopias and Utopians: An Historical Dictionary.Greenwood Publishing Group. p.99.
Dawn Valcour.
External links[edit]
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