I recently made the journey back home to Michigan after camping in Acadia National Park for the very first time. I have been on hiatus from writing for a little while now, but I found my inspiration renewed after hiking around the park’s marvelous Jordan Pond.
Trekking around Jordan Pond was truly a wonder. I had the privilege of spotting a family of loons, bright, flowering rose-hip bushes, and freshwater so still and clear that the richly colored stone occupying its depths was clearly visible.
The history of Jordan Pond’s formation is certainly interesting, and surprisingly similar to that of the Great Lakes that I grew up adoring. Both freshwater bodies were formed by glacial action, and are naturally oligotrophic (ecologically speaking, freshwater resources that have few dissolved salts and minerals – supporting little plant life – and large quantities of dissolved oxygen) and rocky.
This amazing pond not only provides tourists with spectacular scenery while hiking; it is also the water supply that Seal Harbor residents depend upon. For this reason, spectators and their pets are not allowed to swim in the pond lest it be contaminated. The park is meticulous in the preservation of Jordan Pond, which is very reassuring to the environmentally conscious.
I would certainly recommend that anyone planning a trip to Acadia National Park consider walking the Jordan Pond loop. It offers a lush, unique landscape that is different from the salt marshes, desert mountains, and seashore cliffs that abound the rest of the park. If you’re interested in learning more about Jordan Pond, please visit http://www.acadiamagic.com/jordan-pond.html, and remember to get outside and explore the world’s parks! Immersing yourself in wilderness can be a calming, rejuvenating experience, and remind you of what really matters most to you in this world.
Students for Water Quality and Accessibility 