The Champlain Sea was formed after Lake Vermont was freed from the glaciers to the north. The path to the Atlantic Ocean was no longer blocked, yet the land was still compacted from the weight of the glaciers. The oceans were full of the glacial melt waters, so the salt water flowed into the Champlain Valley forming a small sea.

We see no evidence of salt water here, but the well-preserved skeleton of a whale was found near Charlotte, a few miles south of here. The skeleton can be seen at the University of Vermont. It is known that during the Champlain Sea period Paleo-Indians living here utilized the sea for foods including whales, seals, and sharks.

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