Rachel Carson - A Winter Visit to the Salt Pond Preserve

 

Rachel Carson is a woman to admire.  Silent Spring, her book that was pubished in 1962, created an up-roar in the environmental world. 

Following the release of the book, the government banned the use of DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), which was widely used as an insecticide.  Despite being attacked by the chemical industry, she reminded us of the importance of protecting our ecosystem.  Rachel Carson loved nature and although I'm not sure she ever uttered the modern word sustainability, I think she would have greatly appreciated it. 

I too, love nature and applaud her work.  When I visit the salt pond in Maine, which is aptly named after her, I imagine that she is there with me.

From my personal collection and published in 1941, this book was re-issued after the success of it's sequel, The Sea Around Us.

First published in 1951, it won the National Book Award for nonfiction and a Burroughs Medal for nature writing.  Notice the price of 35 cents.

Published in 1955.

You may also enjoy reading this biography of Rachel Carson by Linda Lear, Witness for Nature.  Linda is the founder of the Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives at Connecticut College.

The large sign is taken down in the off-season, however, this sign shows the location.  Rachel Carson was the founding chairman of the Maine chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

You may take photos at the salt pond but you may not take anything else.

The ice resembles sheets of broken glass.

The contrast of the blue water against the grey rocks is remarkable.

Only a trace of snow remains at the shoreline.

The lucid beauty of the Maine coast.

The Rachel Carson salt pond is located on Route 32 in Bristol.

Note:  You may also wish to visit the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, which is located in Wells, Maine.