ðə pˈɑːndz wɜː fˈɔːɹmd baɪ ɐ dˈæm ɔnðə ɹˈætʃkɚ ɹˈɪvɚ wˌɪtʃ jˈuːzd tə flˈoʊ ˌʌndɚnˈiːθ ðə wˈɔːlz ʌvðə wˈaɪt sˈɪɾi ɪnðə sˈɛvəntˌiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi.
The ponds were formed by a dam on the Rachka River which used to flow underneath the walls of the White City in the 17th century.