Is it safe to swim in Lake Okeechobee?

Samples of blue-green algae in Lake Okeechobee have now tested at levels the Environmental Protection Agency considers unsafe for swimming. The EPA says swimming in concentrations at 8 parts per billion or higher can be harmful to your health.

What’s wrong with Lake Okeechobee?

The problem with the water discharges from Lake Okeechobee is that they’re dirty. They carry pollutants that flow downstream from Central Florida. Pollutants contribute to algae blooms, which are harmful to people and wildlife.

How many alligators are in Lake Okeechobee?

With an estimated population of 12,925 gators, Jesup ranks second to mammoth Lake Okeechobee (28,106) for the number of alligators in a state lake. But while Okeechobee has more than twice the number of gators as Jesup, it’s also 28 times larger.

Can you hike around Lake Okeechobee?

An overlay on the Florida Trail around Lake Okeechobee, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail provides a mostly paved cycling and walking route around the second largest lake entirely within the borders of the United States.

Are there sharks in Lake Okeechobee?

It is not uncommon to see a shark within 10 yards of the shore break anywhere in the state. They are even seen and caught in inshore estuaries, lagoons and rivers. There has even been a bull shark in Lake Okeechobee. For many anglers, a popular version of big game fishing is to catch a shark from a beach.

Do people swim in Okeechobee?

Yes. We hit the swimming hole in the monkey box regular.

What is the deepest spot in Lake Okeechobee?

about 12 feet
The deepest spot in all of Lake Okeechobee is about 12 feet when the water level is average. Most of its area is shallow enough to wade, that is, if there weren’t tens of thousands of alligators living there.

How long does it take to walk around Lake Okeechobee?

Nine days, 109 miles: that’s the circuit around Lake Okeechobee to complete a walk around the second largest lake inside American borders on the Big O Hike.

Where is the best Lake Okeechobee?

The eastern shore is far better, and Port Mayaca (about two miles north of the Palm Beach County line on Highway 441) offers the best view of the entire “liquid heart of the Everglades.” Drive to the top of the dike and hike down to the water’s edge, where you’ll certainly see wading birds, alligators, and maybe a …

Is it safe to kayak on Lake Okeechobee?

Besides, kayaking on Lake Okeechobee can be quite dangerous given the presence of ‘gators. On the other hand, most kayakers explore the creeks and tributaries of the lake. Being narrower, they are less acceptable to weather, easily navigable, and less ‘gator-filled.

Are there manatees in Lake Okeechobee?

Manatees are known to exit Lake Okeechobee through the lift gate structures (S-351, S-352, and S-354) located along the southern shore of the lake and enter the EAA where, because of differences in water levels, they become entrapped in the interconnecting system of canals.

Is Lake Okeechobee a sinkhole?

This 90-foot-deep naturally occurring sinkhole lake is the deepest lake south of Lake Okeechobee, and one of the deepest in the entire state. Interestingly, studies show the top half is freshwater, and the lower is saltwater.