I didn't know there was a pond here.

It it possible to translate the sentence this way, too: I didn't know there was a pond at such a place." ?

"Such a place" or "a place like this" might convey the nuance better, but I'm not sure if English native speakers would be likely to say these.

That would be the literal translation, I guess the sentence implies the speaker is surprised there could be a pond in 'such a place'.

Maybe 'I didn't know there could be a pond in a place like this'.

What if you are in a place where you wouldn't expect to see a pond? Like in the desert or on top of a hill, maybe.

My feeling is that it doesn't have to be a place where no one would expect a pond. It's enough that you didn't know its existence.

So maybe if it was 「思わなかった」 instead of 「知らなかった」?

Then it must be more surprising.

Alright, thanks guys. :)

#3456793 あれ、こんなところに喫茶店がある。こんなの前からあったっけ？
これもそうですね。