From just south of Hartford to far north in Massachusetts lies a stretch of level ground that is the flattest region of the Central Valley. This broad bottomland is the former basin of Glacial Lake Hitchcock. The aerial view above shows the Connecticut River winding across the former lake bottom from Massachusetts down into Connecticut. The fertile soil which formed from the lake deposits makes for the best farmland in New England. The canal bordering the river is the Enfield Canal, built in the 1840's to carry boats around the Enfield rapids.