Eastham in Barnstable County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Kettles
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 22, 2012
1. Kettles Marker
A bird's eye view of Cape Cod reveals a landscape dimpled with holes. Most of them are nearly round, and many are filled wit water, like Salt Pond in front of you.
Geologists call these intriguing depressions "kettles." They were formed over 18,000 years ago when the gigantic ice-age glaciers that covered this region began to melt. Salt Pond is unique among the kettles of the outer Cape because it has been captured by the ocean. A tidal channel from Nauset Marsh has breached the opposite side of the kettle, allowing salt water to enter. Water levels rise and fall twice daily with the tides.
"Some of the valleys are circular, a hundred feet drop without any outlet, as if the Cape had sunk in those places, or it sands had run out."
Cape Cod
Henry David Thoreau
1863
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 41° 50.237′ N, 69° 58.352′ W. Marker was in Eastham, Massachusetts, in Barnstable County. It was on Nauset Road. Marker is on the back side of the Salt Pond Visitors Center facing the water. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 50 Doane Road, Eastham MA 02642, United States of America.
We have been informed
this page online
Regionally, this marker was on Massachusetts’ Cape Cod. It was also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Workboat of the Marshes (a few steps from this marker); Eastham Remembers (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Eastham Town Hall (approx. half a mile away); First Encounter (approx. half a mile away); Eastham Windmill (approx. half a mile away); Bridge Road Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); Doane Rock (approx. 0.9 miles away); Port de Mallebarre (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eastham.
Additional commentary.
1. About the marker
At the time that this marker profile was included, signage exclusively interpreting natural history were included in the Database. This is no longer the case.
— Submitted December 29, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 22, 2012
2. Salt Pond behind the Visitor Center in Cape Cod
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 15, 2025
3. The Story Behind the Scenery signage
The marker was replaced with this marker. At the time the prior sign was submitted, signs exclusively interpreting history were included in the Database. This is no longer the case.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 750 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 18, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on December 21, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
