Lake Thoreau — Attraction in Virginia

Originally, Lake Audubon was called Snakeden by the Bowmans, then Lake Elsa after Robert Simon's mother. It was finally named Lake Audubon. Audubon and Thoreau were going to be one lake. In the end, two lakes were made.

Lake Thoreau is a 41 acre man-made lake built in 1971 that was formed by the dam over which South Lakes Drive traverses. Lake Audubon is on the east side of the dam, and is about 30 feet lower in elevation than Lake Thoreau. A story is told that when the dam was first built they thought it would take a year or two for the lake to fill up — along came a hurricane and it filled up almost overnight.

The lake itself is named after Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862) who was an American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher. A leading transcendentalist, He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay "Civil Disobedience" (originally published as "Resistance to Civil Government"), an argument in favor of citizen disobedience against an...

Lake Thoreau is beautiful and not to be missed! The thing about Reston is that you can find interesting places with beautiful views in the most unusual places, such as this view of Lake Thoreau from South Lakes shopping center. There are also scenic trails nearby and surrounding the lake to spy...

One of the three main lakes on Reston. This one is 2nd in size, but the deepest of the three. Surrounded by houses, but with a public, paved path all the way around. South Lakes shopping center is located almost on the...