Walden Pond

The famous setting for the book, "Walden, Or Life in the Woods" is deep, beautiful lake near Concord, Massachusetts. Even at the time of Thoreau's writing, many of the original pine and hardwood trees have already been cleared and much of the wildlife has been driven off by urbanization. The deer are gone, the water has been "fished out" and only a few water birds, such as the loon Thoreau mentions, have remained. Squirrel, woodchucks, mice and common birds still roam the woods, but these are animals that commonly coexist with humans. It's a relatively tame place. It is as if Henry David Thoreau has decided to build a house in a local park. This outrageous behavior helps to make the point that even in a modern world, nature goes on. We have a duty to nurture it and opportunities to enjoy it.

Concord

A medium-sized...