This historic pond may be more famous today for its swimming and beach access, however the location is stepped with history. Walden pond inspired author Henry David Thoreau to write his famous aptly named Walden book as an ode to the two and a half years he spent by this pond in a nature retreat. While the pond today does not hold the same seclusion he had experienced, its beauty and surrounding walking trails provide a small respite from the bustling traffic of Route 2 only half a mile away. Luckily, this pond lies in the Walden Pond State Reservation and is unlikely to be threatened by development. However, as climate change affects the whole planet, this ecosystem will also be put under strain as with most natural places.