Lake Istokpoga
| Lake Istokpoga | |
|---|---|
| Location | Highlands County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°22′N 81°17′W / 27.367°N 81.283°WCoordinates: 27°22′N 81°17′W / 27.367°N 81.283°W |
| Lake type | Fishing |
| Primary inflows | Arbuckle Creek, Josephine Creek |
| Primary outflows | C41 canal |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 10 miles (16 km) |
| Max. width | 5 miles (8 km) |
| Surface area | 28,000 acres (113 km2) |
| Average depth | 4 feet (1.2 m) |
| Max. depth | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Surface elevation | 37.5–39.5 ft (11.4–12.0 m) |
| Islands | Big, Bumble Bee |
| Settlements | Lorida, Sebring, Lake Placid |
Lake Istokpoga is a 28,000-acre (110 km2) freshwater lake in Highlands County, Florida. The oblong-shaped lake is 5 miles (8.0 km) wide by 10 miles (16 km) long. Despite its area, it is very shallow, with an average depth of only 4 feet (1.2 m). Maximum depth is 10 feet (3.0 m). As a result, boaters must be cautious to not become stranded in muck near the shore line. Bass and Pontoon boats are the most commonly used watercraft, with some use of air boats. With such shallowness, this lake is extremely dangerous for boaters during windstorms, as the waves get quite high.
Boating and fishing are popular activities at this lake. There are at least half a dozen fish camps on Lake Istokpoga. Several of these fish camps book visitors for fishing trips and they also have cabins and hook up for campers, for overnight stays. The amenities on the lake are 5 public boat ramps and 2 public parks, one on the lake's north side and the other on the south east corner. Most of the shoreline is undeveloped and there are 2 islands, Big and Bumble Bee, in the lake's interior. Some residential properties and private boat docks and beaches dot areas on the shore.
Istokpoga is Seminole Indian for "our people died there" because a group of Seminole Indians attempted to cross the lake and were bogged in the mire and swallowed by whirlpools.
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During the summer months, the lake level is lowered even more to provide water for the sugar cane growers down stream, which means if you live on the lake, there are many times you will find no water at your dock. The state has also let many types of weeds overtake parts of the lake, which causes boating and fishing to come to a halt in those areas.
