Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee
Photographed from space, 2000
Location of Lake Okeechobee in Florida, USA.
Location of Lake Okeechobee in Florida, USA.
Lake Okeechobee
Location of Lake Okeechobee in Florida, USA.
Location of Lake Okeechobee in Florida, USA.
Lake Okeechobee
Shown at the top of this map of South Florida
LocationFlorida
Coordinates26°56′N 80°48′W / 26.933°N 80.800°W / 26.933; -80.800
Primary inflowsKissimmee River, Fisheating Creek, Taylor Creek
Primary outflowsEverglades, Caloosahatchee River, St. Lucie River
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length36 mi (57.5 km)
Max. width29 mi (46.6 km)
Surface area734 sq mi (1,900 km2)
Average depth8 ft 10 in (2.7 m)
Max. depth12 ft (3.7 m)
Water volume1 cu mi (5.2 km3) (estimated)
Residence time3 years
Surface elevation12 to 18 ft (3.74 to 5.49 m)
IslandsKreamer, Torry, Ritta, Grass, Observation, Bird, Horse, Hog, Eagle Bay

Lake Okeechobee (US: /kiˈbi/ oh-kee-CHOH-bee)[1] is the largest freshwater lake in the U.S. state of Florida.[2] It is the tenth-largest natural freshwater lake among the 50 states of the United States and the second-largest natural freshwater lake contained entirely within the contiguous 48 states, after Lake Michigan.[3]

Okeechobee covers 730 square miles (1,900 km2) and is exceptionally shallow for a lake of its size, with an average depth of only 9 feet (2.7 metres). It is not only the largest lake in Florida or the largest lake in the southeast United States, but it is too large to see across.[4] The Kissimmee River, located directly north of Lake Okeechobee, is the lake's primary source.[5] The lake is divided between Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, Palm Beach and Hendry counties. All five counties meet at one point near the center of the lake.[6]

  1. ^ "Okeechobee". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  2. ^ Gardner, Rusty. "Welcome to the Lake Okeechobee". Florida by Water.
  3. ^ Heather S. Henkel (2010-04-15). "SOFIA Virtual Tour – Lake Okeechobee". Sofia.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  4. ^ Lecher, Alanna L. (January 2021). "A Brief History of Lake Okeechobee: A Narrative of Conflict". Journal of Florida Studies. 1 (9): 1–3.
  5. ^ "Lake Okeechobee | Location & Facts". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  6. ^ Counties of Florida map from U.S. Census Bureau.