I live on Isle la Motte, a small island whose size is about 7 miles by 2 miles. The island is in the middle of Lake Champlain which is on the northwestern most corner of Vermont. Isle la Motte has 450 year round residents but has many more summer residents (perhaps as many as 5000). We have a shrine to St Anne (Mary's mother) on the island which is run by the Edmonite Brothers. There is a beautiful little chapel there as well as the shrine, picnic areas and a small beach.
Isle la Motte also has an ancient reef with fossiles from 480 million years ago (or so they say). It is part of the Great Chazy Reef that was just declared a national preserve a few weeks ago. Here is a web site with some great pictures and information that tell about Isle la Motte and our reef, which is the oldest in the world
http://www.ilmpt.org/chazy.html. The reef on Isle la Motte can be toured and fossiles can be seen right on the ground there. When I was a child, the whole exposed reef area was a huge cow pasture. Boy times have changed. Now there is a walking trail and a small museum exhibit there.
We also played a part in more recient history. Isle la Motte was the first place that Samuel De Champlain landed when he entered Lake Champlain (named for him) in 1609. There was also a Fort here that was built in 1666 by the French. The island was named after the builder of this fort. There has been a European settlement on the island since the 17th century. We also played a part in the American Revolution and the French and Indian war. Musket balls and other metal items can be found behind St Annes Shrine and by our light house with metal detectors.
We have 2 marble quaries that quary black marble. One, Fisk Quary, is no longer in use and has been designated a preserve, and the other, which still produces marble during the spring, summer, and fall. Isle la Motte marble can be found in our nations Capital Building and the National Gallary of Art. This web site gives more historical information regarding Isle la Motte
http://www.islelamotte.us/
Isle la Motte is a quiet place to live. It is off the beaten path with only one small causway bridge to get on and off the island. It is easy to forget the world here, as long s you dont turn on the TV.