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Murphy's Pond (sometimes referred to as "Murphy Pond") is a wetlands complex located in Hickman County, Kentucky. While only about 175 acres in size, the pond is notable because it contains the largest bald cypress swamp remaining in Kentucky. To protect the pond from the effects of surrounding commercial development, the pond and its immediate surroundings were added to the Obion Creek State Nature Preserve by the State of Kentucky in 2005. The pond itself is owned and managed by Murray State University, located 30 miles east in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State acquired the property in 1975 with a grant from The Nature Conservancy. Students seeking a degree in fisheries or aquatic biology at Murray State use the pond for field investigations. Access to the pond is restricted by the university.
Map of Murphy Pond, Kentucky 42039, USA
Murphy's Pond is mostly swampland, with only small sections of open water. The pond and the surrounding lowlands, formed by Obion Creek and its tributaries, support one of the highest concentrations of cottonmouths in the United States. The pond was once considered close to the northernmost point of the snake's range, although snakes have now been found as far as Illinois.