Hero Islands

Group of islands in Lake Champlain, in the far northwest of Vermont. Together with Isle La Motte and mainland Alburg, they comprise Grand Isle County, Vermont's smallest county (231 sq km/89 sq mi, population (1990) 5,300). North Hero, which measures 19 km/12 mi north–south, is the county seat. South Hero, equal in length but up to 8 km/5 mi wide, contains the towns of Grand Isle and South Hero. Isle la Motte lies northwest of North Hero.

The American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen met an accidental death after an evening at his brother Ebenezer's tavern on what was then Grand Isle, in 1789; subsequently Grand Isle was renamed South Hero, and Isle Longue North Hero, in honour of Ethan and Ira Allen. The islands are rural in character, with farms and summer camps. Some residents commute to Burlington.