Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain (/ʃæmˈpleɪn/; French: Lac Champlain) is a natural freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States (states of Vermont and New York) but partially situated across the Canada–United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.

The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of Clinton County and Essex County. Most of this area is part of the Adirondack Park. There are recreational opportunities in the park and along the relatively undeveloped coastline of Lake Champlain. The cities of Plattsburgh, New York and Burlington, Vermont are on the west and east shores of the lake, respectively, and the village of Ticonderoga, New York is located in the southern part of the region. The Quebec portion is located in the regional county municipalities of Le Haut-Richelieu and Brome-Missisquoi. There are a number of islands in the lake; the largest include the towns of South Hero, Grand Isle, North Hero, Alburgh, and Isle La Motte, all belonging to Grand Isle County in the state of Vermont.

USS Lake Champlain (CG-57)

USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser in the United States Navy. It is the third ship to be named Lake Champlain, in honor of Battle of Lake Champlain, which took place during the War of 1812.

Ship history

Lake Champlain was laid down 3 March 1986 at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, launched 3 April 1987 and commissioned 12 August 1988 at Intrepid Pier at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, Captain Ralph K. Martin commanding. She then steamed to her homeport of San Diego, via Cape Horn, South America, losing part of her Hurricane Bow in heavy seas. She has been to the Persian Gulf many times, first as a part of Operation Desert Shield, then later following Desert Storm. She aided in the evacuation of the Philippines during the Mount Pinatubo eruption while transiting to the Persian Gulf.

The Lake Champlain is currently assigned to Carrier Group One.

November 2007 Explosion

On 10 November 2007 an explosion occurred on the ship during routine maintenance in a San Diego dry dock. Six workers were injured, two critically. The explosion was apparently caused when flammable gases, inside the pump room where the workers were working, ignited. On 23 November 2007 the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that it would be conducting an investigation into the explosion.