Being the largest lake in the state of Florida, it is only natural that Lake Okeechobee is home to various wildlife – some of which are classified as endangered species. After all, the 730 square miles of freshwater is bound to attract wildlife, right?

Although the Big O, another name for this Florida lake, is quite shallow (with an average depth of 9 feet), a lot of species call it its home. In fact, this is the lake with the most concentration of alligators. At least, this is based on a census done in 2006. According to the article published on NBCNews.com, two airboats were able to count 754 alligators in only 3 hours. Take note that this does not even include the whole lake. It is only is a small section of the Lake Okeechobee. The article reports further that experts expect that more than a million alligators live in Florida – and a lot of them can be found in this lake. While that amount may seem intimidating (and downright scary), we can not confidently say that the alligator is no longer an endangered species.

Beyond the dreaded alligator, this lake is also a popular spot for fishing. Although visitors are allowed to fish, this is carefully regulated by the authorities. If you plan to indulge in this sport while you are visiting Lake Okeechobee, it is encouraged that you follow the rules and regulations surrounding it. For instance, bass that is less than 18 inches should be released back into the water. This is meant to protect the fishing population. Among the fishes thriving in the lake are the largemouth bass and black crappie. Catfish is also a species that dominates this lake. The fishing industry generates a lot of income in this area. According to the data published on MyFWC.com, the year 2000 generated more than $117 million in retail sales. Forage fish is also living in abundance in this lake. Minnows, small bream and shiners thrive in the submerged vegetation in the country.

You have to know the history of Lake Okeechobee if you really want to enjoy your visit. Also known as “The Lake” or “The Big O”, this body of water is the biggest lake in Florida state. Next to Lake Michigan, this is the second largest freshwater lake in the 48 states of the United States. If you include Alaska and Hawaii, it becomes the seventh largest lake.

Lake Okeechobee is 730 square miles wide. You cannot see the opposite shore because of its width. It is so wide that 5 counties share it: Glades, Marketing, Hendry, Palm Beach, and Okeechobee counties. Although it is big, most of it are quite shallow. The average depth of the lake is 9 feet. This is why navigating this body of water requires a special vessel called the airboat. This type of boat has a flat bottom and is propelled forward by an aircraft-type propeller.

Having a background of the history of Lake Okeechobee will allow you to appreciate its beauty as you explore the waters. According to the information published on the Florida state website, geological surveys reveal that this lake was formed around 6,000 years ago. It is believed that the ocean waters receded and left shallow waters covering a big part of Florida. The name itself, when translated from the Hitchiti language, means “big water” (oki for water and chubi for big). Despite being shallow, this lake is the source of the Everglades.

What you see in the lake today is a result of various changes in the state. Based on the data found on State.FL.us, here are the changes that affected the present day Lake Okeechobee.

• 1890s: a Philadelphia businessman and real estate developer (Hamilton Disston), built a canal that connects Lake Okeechobee to Lake Hicpochee. This provided the lake with an outlet towards the Caloosahatchee River.
• 1900s: various canals were constructed by the Everglades Drainage District to allow a continuous, albeit slow, drainage of the Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. This allows the northern part of the Everglades to be drained for agricultural purposes. It also kept the crops from being flooded.
• 1920s: flooding caused by two devastating hurricanes prompted the state to turn to the Congress for help. The natural disaster caused a storm surge that caused around 2,000 people to perish. To prevent this from happening again, the Congress directed the United States Army Corps of Engineers to build the Herbert Hoover Dike. This is a system of canals and levees that surround the perimeter of the lake up to this very day. This system allows engineers to control the discharge of water from the lake.

Of all the details from the history of Lake Okeechobee, it is the construction of the Hoover Dike that caused the most development around the lake. Since it was built, the surrounding area was successfully converted into agricultural land. Dairy farms, cattle ranches, and vegetable farming flourished thanks to the Lake.

Since Lake Okeechobee is valuable to its surrounding areas and home to various endangered species, the Congress clearly stated how it is to be used to avoid exploitation. Among its uses includes the following:

• Water supply for: surrounding municipalities, agricultural irrigation, regional groundwater control, estuary salinity control and other industrial uses
• Management of flood and other storm risks
• Fish and wildlife enhancement
• Navigation and recreation

Now that you have a better understanding of the history of Lake Okeechobee, you can appreciate it in its present condition. You will understand the story behind the massive Hoover Dike and the various agricultural developments around it. More importantly, its role in the local ecosystem will make you cautious and careful of how you enjoy your visit within and around the lake. Something as precious as Lake Okeechobee needs protecting and everyone is expected to pitch in – even if it is a simple act of cleaning up after your stay.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Your visit to Lake Okeechobee will not be complete if you do not go on an airboat tour. If you have to prioritize one thing, it is exploring this big lake by riding on a speedy airboat. While there are a lot of activities in and around this lake, riding this watercraft is the best way to breathe in the raw beauty of Lake Okeechobee.

There are three important reasons why you should go on an airboat adventure in Lake Okeechobee.

You get breathtaking views of the Big O Lake
Let us start with the breathtaking views. Lake Okeechobee boasts of great scenery and a rare glimpse of aquatic and amphibian wildlife in their natural habitat. That alone is enough reason for you to go on an airboat tour. The passengers of airboats are usually seated in an elevated position – giving you great views of the surrounding area. You can see the great Florida Alligator and the various endangered species thriving in the Big O. It is also open in front and at the sides – which allows you to see, hear and feel the whole experience.

You get an exhilarating ride
The second reason to go on an airboat adventure is for the exhilarating ride. The airboats in Lake Okeechobee can go as fast as 50 mph. It can also be used for racing where it can go on top speeds of up to 130 mph. Of course, the former speed is the best for touring the lake so the captain will probably stick to that. Although the open boat and the speed might make it dangerous – we assure you that it is not. Our captain in the Big “O” Tours is Coast Guard certified guide. He is an expert in navigating an airboat and the waters of Lake Okeechobee.

You learn a lot about Lake Okeechobee and its inhabitants
Finally, an airboat tour around the lake is both informative and enlightening. You get to learn about the history of Lake Okeechobee. You will be educated about the massive Hoover Dike is beyond the horizon. You will be told stories of how this lake was formed when the ocean waters receded beyond the state of Florida. And you will be enlightened by the state of the endangered species in and around the lake. The wildlife in Lake Okeechobee is quite diverse and some of them are deemed to be endangered animals. You can hear about the efforts of the government in preserving the natural habitat of these wonderful creatures.

As you can see, much is to be gained if you go on an airboat tour.

How exactly does an airboat work?

This flat-bottomed vessel is thrust forward through an aircraft-type propeller. This is typically situated at the back of the boat. It used to be powered by an aircraft engine but issues with service and parts availability forced manufacturers to create recent models with V8 automotive engines. The horsepower of the engine is of varying degrees – depending on how it is intended to be used.

All this photo says on it is 1947. But this airboat design is essentially the same at the first one built in 1943 by Hortin Jensen.
Photo credit: USFWS – Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.