How Tall Is Vermont? Total Distance North to South

Vermont is a popular destination for those in search of beautiful wilderness terrain. However, it is the smallest state in the New England area but it has a lot to offer. Here you will find over 100 covered wooden bridges dating back to the 19^th century while exploring the countryside. It is also one of the largest producers of maple syrup in the country. In addition, it is an outdoor paradise for those who like to hike, fish, and ski.

Key Points

• Nicknamed the “Green Mountain State” because of the Green Mountains that run through Vermont.
• The “greenest state” also has the lowest emissions per capita! Even more, they have 100 percent renewable sourced electricity.
• The state has 13 ecoregions, the main one being the Northeastern Highlands region.
• Vermont’s biome is transitional between the northern boreal and the southern deciduous forests.
• American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen was born here. In fact, he led the Green Mountain Boys to help secure Vermont’s freedom from Britain.
• Robert Frost lived in Vermont for many years, however he was born in San Francisco. As a result of moving here, he was inspired to write many of his poems including “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”

How Tall Is Vermont? Total Distance North to South

Vermont is 157.4 miles in length from its northern Canadian border to its southern Massachusetts border. In addition, the widest point near Canada is 90.3 miles, and the narrowest point is near Massachusetts at 41.6 miles. To the east, the Connecticut River forms a boundary with New Hampshire and to the west, the border with New York is mostly Lake Champlain for nearly half its distance. The land area is 9,616 mi² and the highest elevation is Mount Mansfield at 4,393 feet above sea level. In contrast, the lowest point is Lake Champlain which is 95 feet deep.

Ecoregions

The state follows natural ecoregion borders due to its north-south orientation. Overall, it has a humid continental climate with a variety of differences in each region with most regions containing a mixture of bedrock types. However, most of the state falls in the Northeastern Highlands region which is characterized by colder climates, higher elevations, and rugged topography. Within this region are two distinct regions the Northern Connecticut Valley along the New Hampshire border to the east and the Western New England Marble Valleys region to the southwest. The remaining regions are a variety of hilly areas with an assortment of elevations and topography. In addition, two of the regions on the border of Vermont have a milder climate and flatter topography which are the fertile Connecticut Valley region with milder temperatures and the Champlain Lowlands.

Ecosystem: the state has the largest temperate broadleaf forest on the planet.

Wildlife in Vermont

The wetlands of Vermont provide a home to various waterfowl including egrets, bitterns, herons, loons, mergansers, and ducks. Mammals that live here include beaver, otter, mink, moose, and black bear. There is also an assortment of amphibians, for example, salamanders, toads, and frogs as well as reptiles including skinks, snakes, and turtles.

The Morgan Horse is the state animal and an iconic symbol of the Green Mountains. Additionally, it is one of the earliest breeds in America.

The hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) is the state bird.

Forest Flora

Over 71 percent of Vermont is covered in forests, here are some of the popular trees that make up the landscape:

• Beech (Fagus)
• Birch (Betula)
• Sugar maple (Acer saccharum): 20 percent of the forests are made up of maple trees which is the official state tree
• Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
• Spruce (Picea)
• Pine (Pinus)
• Juniper (Juniperus)
• American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
• Northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is Vermont’s state flower.

Interesting Facts

• Apples are the state fruit, in Vermont a “good faith” serving should include vanilla ice cream, cheddar cheese, or milk. Vermont Tree Growers Association claims they produce around a million bushels of apples annually which comes out to about 40 million pounds!
• Vermont translates to the green mountain or “ver mont” in French. The first European settlement in Vermont was in 1666 when the French claimed it as part of New France.
• According to American folklore, the mythical creature “Champ” is thought to live in Lake Champlain.

In Conclusion

People enjoy Vermont for its varied topography from rolling hills to mountain peaks and flatlands to farmlands. The state is dotted with historic towns with many creative people and popular industries, think of Ben & Jerry’s! People come here for the culture, the beauty, and the tranquility of this small state with a lot to offer.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Katherine Welles/Shutterstock.com