Vermont is the second largest state in New England (after Maine) at 9,614 square miles, but is the eighth smallest state in the nation.  Vermont is wide at the top along the Canadian border (90.3 miles) and narrow at the bottom (41.6 miles) along the Massachusetts border.  Vermont is 157.4 miles long, with New York to the west and New Hampshire to the east.  Lake Champlain runs along the state's western border. 

Vermont is nicknamed the Green Mountain State because of the Green Mountains which run all the way through the middle of the state.  The Green Mountains is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.  In fact, the state's name is derived from it:  Ver, from the French word for green, vert; and -mont from mountain.  Many types of rocks and minerals, but especially granite, marble, slate, asbestos, and talc, have been mined from the Green Mountains.

There are four seasons in Vermont: Winter, Spring (sometimes called "mud season") Summer and Fall. Every year, thousands of people from all over come to Vermont to see the scenic splendor of her mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests. These many attractions make Vermont a great place for outdoor activities all year round.

Mount Mansfield is the tallest mountain in Vermont. It stands at 4,235 feet. Camel's Hump which actually is shaped like a camel's hump ranks among the tallest Vermont mountains at 4,083 feet. You can hike to the top of both mountains during the summer and fall. The views at their summits are amazing any season. On a clear day, the peaks of Mount Washington all the way from New Hampshire can even be seen. During the fall, Vermont is populated by leaf peepers who visit our state to see the fall foliage which can be best seen at the peaks of these mountains. Snow covered tops are a common sight during the winter months. Many people visit Vermont to downhill and cross-country ski during the winter and to camp and hike these mountains in the summer and fall.

Vermont's Lake Champlain is the sixth largest body of fresh water in the United States. We share the lake with our neighbors New York and Canada. During the winter the lake may freeze over. Sometimes you can find Vermonters ice fishing or even ice skating on the frozen lake. Swimming and boating in Lake Champlain are among some of the fun activities to do in the summer and early fall. Did you know that Vermont is still mostly made up of forests? Seventy-seven percent of Vermont is still forests. During the fall, these forests are the main attraction. Their leaves light up the state with radiant colors of orange, red and yellow. Leaf peepers come from miles around just to see the fall foliage. The best views of the foliage are at the tops of Mount Mansfield and Camel's Hump.

For more information about Vermont's Geography, check out the following sites:
Vermont Vacations: geography page
The Vermont Center for Geographic Information
Charlotte, The Whale