True to form and saying that silent water runs deep, Lake Champlain has enormous collection of historic details and even mysteries, embedded in its depth.
This natural freshwater lake in North America is located in the valley with the same name, bounded by New York, Vermont and part of Canada.
Its name was derived from the French explorer who discovered this 125 mile-long lake in the early 17th century or 400 years ago, named Samuel de Champlain.
Its historic importance may be best traced in its part in the battle of America against Britain in the "War of 1812", which actually ran for three years from 1812 to 1815.
It became a silent witness to the enduring efforts of Americans in driving the British forces away from the Great Lakes.
In 1814, all the American flags waved in victory and the people rejoiced as they dominated the war.
By way of honoring this victory, three US naval ships were named after Lake Champlain.
Part of its mystery is the urban legend backed up by more than 300 sightings of an underwater creature or monster which may be in relation with the Loch Ness Monster which take its prey by dragging the victim under and eventually killing it.
It had been a quite popular urban legend passed on to several people that the beast was even named as "Champ".
This, in its irony, instead drew people to this phenomenon that it even promoted tourism, especially in Vermont where many Champ souvenirs may be bought such as shirts and mugs.
However way we look at it -- a mysterious lake, a historic site or a natural scenic beauty - continuing efforts for its protection and conservation must always be monitored to not lose this precious body of water.