Vermont is the second largest state in New England after Maine. Dominating the state's geography are the Green Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.

Some 223 mountains over 2,000 feet in elevation, rise above fertile valleys that support and extensive dairy industry. The nation's sixth largest lake, Lake Champlain, runs along the state's western border. Vermont Geographic Stats Total Area: 9,609 square miles Highest Elevation: Mt. Mansfield, 4,395.3 ft.

In comparison with most states, Vermont is small in total area. Still, Vermont is the second largest state in New England after Maine, just a few hundred square miles larger than New Hampshire.

The Green Mountain State is bordered by Canada, New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. It is 157.4 miles in length, 90.3 miles wide at the Canadian border, and 41.6 miles along the Massachusetts border. The Connecticut River forms the eastern boundary, while the western boundary runs down the middle of Lake Champlain for more than half of its length.

The state has 223 mountains over 2,000 feet in elevation. The mountainous areas of the state are primarily forested. In fact, although Vermont was virtually clear-cut of timber during the late 19th century, more than 75 percent of the state's total area is now forested. Beneath the mountains and rolling hills are the fertile valleys that support an extensive dairy industry.

As mountain ranges go, the Green Mountains are very old, and have been sculpted to their present form during several ice ages. Granite, marble, slate asbestos and talc have all been mined from the range.