CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE

There are some 365 freshwater ponds on Cape Cod. Most of these are kettle ponds, formed when blocks of ice from the last glacier became imbedded or covered by outwash materials, leaving depressions that filled with fresh water when ground water rose to intersect them.

The pond's water quality has been studied for more than 20 years giving the park a solid understanding of the physical and biological dynamics that drive these ecosystems. These ponds are susceptible to threats from pollution and erosion. Please respect park regulations to protect our ponds.

National Park Service photo.