As the birthplace of the conservation movement in America and subject of Henry Thoreau’s writings, few ponds have been so culturally significant as Walden Pond.
Situated just off route 2 outside the town of Concord, Walden Pond was first brought to the attention of the world by Frederic Tudor, the Ice King, who would harvest the frozen ice from Walden and transport it to Charlestown, New Orleans, the Caribbean and as far away as India. Indeed Henry Thoreau wrote that ‘the pure waters of Walden were now mixed with those of the sacred Ganges.’
But it was Thoreau that really put Walden Pond on the map. In 1845, the writer built a tiny single room house in Walden Woods on a plot of land owned by his friend and fellow Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Thoreau lived a semi hermitic existence here for two years, recounting his experiences in Walden (1854). In tune with Transcendentalist philosophy, the book helped nurture a wider appreciation and respect for nature leading to the establishment of conservationism in America.
Today Walden Pond and the surrounding area is a popular destination for swimming, canoeing and fishing, while woodland tails stop at a replica of Thoreau’s home and the site of the original house. The best times to visit are early in the morning or around sunset. The area may be closed during peak times to prevent the natural habitat becoming overstressed, check locally before visiting.
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