An exposure apparatus illuminates a pattern with an energy beam and
transfers the pattern onto a substrate via a projection optical system.
The exposure apparatus includes a substrate stage on which the substrate
is mounted and that moves within a two-dimensional plane holding the
substrate. In addition, a supply mechanism supplies liquid to locally
fill a space between the projection optical system and the substrate on
the substrate stage with the liquid, and a recovery mechanism recovers
the liquid. A plate is provided in at least a part of the periphery of a
mounted area of the substrate on the substrate stage. The plate has a
surface arranged at substantially the same height as a surface of the
substrate mounted on the substrate stage.