Visit to 'Ward Pound Ridge Reservation' in Cross River, South East New York state.
‘Nature is always in action….Every particle of rock or water or air has God by its side leading it the way it should go; The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness; In God's wildness is the hope of the world……We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us,"
- John Muir, Famous American Naturalist, Environmentalist and writer
A country, to me, is not great because of its one of the fastest growing economy, large geographical area, wealth & riches; large workforce , highly trained, well- equipped and motivated armed-forces; birth place of many great inventions and new technologies, but is because of its un-polluted clean Air ,Water and Soil, clear Sky, big, green and thick Forests, Deserts, Mountains, its unique Bio-Diversified flora and fauna ; great Oceans, long, gush-flowing Rivers with clean water, big natural Lakes, abundant natural riches, in form of reserves of mines & minerals, oil & gas reserves ; last but not the least above all its determination (by its people and the government ) to keep, maintain and be proud of what they have had inherited.
United States of America is one of the great countries, with this definition.
The Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, with an area of 4,315-acre in the South-East of New York state, in vicinity of Stamford, Connecticut , makes it one of the USA's largest parks. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation abounds with open space consisting of meadows, wet meadows, sandy moraines and vernal ponds. Its rustic woodlands include evergreen plantations, Oak, Hickory and Maple forests and wooded wetlands. Two streams, Cross River and Stone Hill River, run through the park and are home to thirteen species of native and stocked fish. It is also popular for picnicking, lean-to camping, fishing and cross-country skiing.
Originally part of Cortlandt Manor, the reservation was settled by farmers from Connecticut. The name Pound Ridge is credited to the indigenous Indians who originally lived in the area. They had a local pound in which they kept game on the hoof until they needed it for food. The name was spelled “Poundridge” until 1938, when the Westchester county bought the property and added the “Ward” to honor William Lukens Ward, Westchester’s Republican county leader from 1896 to 1933.
We visited the area on a sunny afternoon, last week, did some tracking in the forests and the hills. Enjoyed the greenery all along, fresh and clean air, gushing clear water in the rivers and slow cool breeze. The wild black bear, wolf, fox and many small animals inhabit the forests.