- Houghton's Pond
Infobox lake
lake_name = Houghton's Pond
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry=
location =Milton, Massachusetts
coords =
type = Glacial Pond
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = convert|24|acre|abbr=on|lk=on
depth =
max-depth = convert|42|ft|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities =
frozen =Houghton's Pond is a spring-fed
kettle hole pond located inMilton, Massachusetts just outside the city limits ofBoston . Like manyponds andlakes in theUnited States , it was formed by recedingglaciers about 10,000 years ago. [mass.gov] By the quasi-international standard definitions of lakes being larger in area than the upper area limit of ponds, the 24 acre (9.7hectare in metric system) pond is larger than the largest pond (20 acres, 8ha ), and so is technically a lake. [pond , cited datum, wikipedia, 2008, the largest range of areas definitions for ponds tabulated top out circa 20 acres (8ha ).] In the various older definitions used in the biological sciences, it is also a lake. [pond , cited datum, wikipedia, 2008, the "light to bottom" criteria might be viable depending upon waterturbidity , but there is no way one can wade across awaterbody this deep.]The pond is located within the boundaries of the protected
Blue Hills Reservation and managed by theMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation . TheMassachusett tribe once fished thepond and hunted in the woodlands that surround it. The pond is named after the prominentNew England Houghton family of business and political notoriety who once lived in the area.The area is a popular destination for
Massachusetts residents in all seasons. Being located just outside the city limits ofBoston , the area offers people the chance to quickly immerse themselves in a natural surrounding and is perhaps unique in the fact that it is in such close proximity to a long established and majormetropolitan city . The pond offers a supervised swimming area, stocked fishing, picnic areas, and various outdoor sports recreation activities. There is aconcession stand as well as a visitor's center located on the premises. Thepond is surrounded by an array ofhiking trails within theBlue Hills Reservation . The area is most popular in the summer when thebeach is often being utilized by locals forswimming and cook-outs.The pond is situated at the foot of the
Great Blue Hill .See also
*
Blue Hills Reservation
*List of beaches in New England
*Walden pond External links
* http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/houghtonsPond.htm
References
* http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/houghtonsPond.htm
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.