Sunfish Pond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sunfish Pond |
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 Sunfish Pond
Location in New Jersey
Sunfish Pond
Location in the United States
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| Location | Worthington State Forest, Hardwick Township, Warren County, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 41°00′11″N 75°04′23″W / 41.003043°N 75.073099°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 44 acres (18 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 1,379 ft (420 m) |
| Designated: | January 1970 |
Sunfish Pond is a beautiful, 44-acre (18 ha) lake in New Jersey. It's a special type of lake called a glacial lake. This means it was formed by a huge sheet of ice, called a glacier, during the last ice age.
The lake is surrounded by a large forest. This forest covers about 258-acre (104 ha) and is full of hardwood trees. Sunfish Pond is located on the Kittatinny Ridge in Worthington State Forest. It's also very close to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
A famous hiking path, the Appalachian Trail, goes right along the western and northern sides of the lake. In January 1970, Sunfish Pond was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural area in the United States.
Contents
History of Sunfish Pond
How the Land Was Used
Long ago, a man named Charles C. Worthington bought the land around Sunfish Pond. He used the forest as a special place to hunt deer. The lake itself provided water for his large house.
Saving the Lake from a Dam
In 1965, there was a big plan that could have changed Sunfish Pond forever. People wanted to build a large dam called the Tocks Island Dam. This dam would have created a huge reservoir, and Sunfish Pond would have been completely covered by water.
But many people didn't want this to happen! A local person named Casey Kayes helped organize a protest. He led 655 people on a hike to the lake to show how much they loved it. More hikes and letter-writing campaigns followed. Because of these efforts, the power companies that owned the land decided to give it to the state in 1966. This saved Sunfish Pond!
Later, a very important judge, William O. Douglas, even mentioned Sunfish Pond in a legal case. He used it as an example of a special natural place that needed protection.
Plants and Animals Around the Lake
Sunfish Pond is home to many interesting plants. Around the lake, you can find beautiful mountain laurel and sheep laurel plants. There are also fields of Symphoricarpos orbiculatus nearby. If you look closely near the water's edge, you might even spot Drosera rotundifolia, which is a type of carnivorous plant!
Visiting Sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond is a very popular spot for people who love to hike. Many trails lead to the lake. The famous Appalachian Trail runs along the western and northern edges of the lake. It's the southernmost glacial tarn (a lake formed in a mountain basin by a glacier) you'll find on that trail.
The quickest way to reach the lake is a 1.2-mile hike from the Garvey Springs trailhead. The trails can be quite steep and rocky in some places, so wear good shoes!
It's important to know that you cannot swim in Sunfish Pond. This helps protect the lake's natural environment. There's a special campground nearby, about a quarter-mile away. If you camp there, remember to follow "Leave No Trace" rules. This means taking all your trash with you and being careful with your food. Black bears live in the area, so you need to store your food safely to keep them away.
As you walk along the northwestern shore of the lake, you might see some interesting piles of rocks. These are called cairns, and people have built them over time.
See also
In Spanish: Laguna Sunfish para niños
