Lake Okeechobee    (sorry no pictures)

Lakeport, FL - March 3, 2007

We drove over to see Lake Okeechobee.  This is THE LAKE or the “Big O” and is the largest freshwater lake in Florida and the second largest natural freshwater lake contained entirely within the contiguous 48 states, after Lake Michigan.  It’s a natural lake that is 33 miles north to south and 30 miles east to west covering more than 730 square miles and averages only 10 feet deep.  It is also known as the premier largemouth bass fishing spot in the entire world.  However, it is very hard to see any of the lake because of the high dike around it.  The dike was approved by President Hoover and constructed in the late 1930’s after high winds and hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 caused flooding in the area and killed over 4,000 people.  By 1960 the dike was modified to surround the entire lake and dedicated as the Herbert Hoover Dike in 1961.  The dike is 140 miles in length and averages 34 feet high.  There are numerous channels and three marinas on the lake.  We drove over the dike at one of the channels to take a look at the lake.  This is one big lake and it has an island in its middle and you can walk the nature trail that goes around the lake if you feel like walking over 120 miles.  Check out more information on the website:  lake okeechobee