A Place Called
Okeechobee
were it started?
Okeechobee, the largest lake in Florida is also the most outstanding
feature on the map of Florida. The water that supplies the lake begins
its journey a hundred miles north, with the winding Kissimmee River
and finishes its journey by emptying into Lake Okeechobee, supplying
the water that filters through the Everglades, flows down the St. Lucie
River and various man made canals to finally empty into the Gulf of
Mexico, the Straights of Florida and the Atlantic Ocean.
At one time the lake was surrounded by the Everglades, but no more,
now a city thrives at the north end of the lake and several smaller
towns are sprinkled around it. Many of these small towns depend on
the tourists who have come to fish. Some of the world's largest Big
Mouth Bass have been caught in Okeechobee, making the lake popular
with sport fisherman. However, there is more history here. It is
an old Florida city. The Seminole and Miccosukee Indians have called
the area around it home for many decades. Agriculture is one of the
largest industries as is Dairy Farming and Cattle Ranching. This is the
heart of the Florida West.
Here a visitor will commonly see cowboys, yes, cowboys. Western
Stetson hats, jeans, western shirts and cowboy boots. Yearly cattle
shows and rodeos are among the local events on the calendar. Some
of the State's best barbecue is found here as well.
During storms, waves as large as twelve and fifteen foot high have
commonly been seen. Tall enough to breach the levy that has
protected the City of Okeechobee and the other smaller towns since
the 1928 hurricane that killed hundreds of people and flooded the City.
Okeechobee is a wonderful area to visit, the people are friendly, the
food is fantastic and the culture, well is a mixture of local Indians,
Western American (transplanted) with a Florida flare. Below is picture
of the Saw Grass that grows on the lake,(mentioned in Atlantis Vortex)
this Saw Grass - also called Razor Grass because IT IS SHARP grows
all the way around the lake. To get a good look at the lake, however,
you must stand a-top the levy. On a clear day, you can see the
southern shore, and if you are lucky, you might see an alligator. If you
are in Florida - put it on your places to visit list. It is worth it!
feature on the map of Florida. The water that supplies the lake begins
its journey a hundred miles north, with the winding Kissimmee River
and finishes its journey by emptying into Lake Okeechobee, supplying
the water that filters through the Everglades, flows down the St. Lucie
River and various man made canals to finally empty into the Gulf of
Mexico, the Straights of Florida and the Atlantic Ocean.
At one time the lake was surrounded by the Everglades, but no more,
now a city thrives at the north end of the lake and several smaller
towns are sprinkled around it. Many of these small towns depend on
the tourists who have come to fish. Some of the world's largest Big
Mouth Bass have been caught in Okeechobee, making the lake popular
with sport fisherman. However, there is more history here. It is
an old Florida city. The Seminole and Miccosukee Indians have called
the area around it home for many decades. Agriculture is one of the
largest industries as is Dairy Farming and Cattle Ranching. This is the
heart of the Florida West.
Here a visitor will commonly see cowboys, yes, cowboys. Western
Stetson hats, jeans, western shirts and cowboy boots. Yearly cattle
shows and rodeos are among the local events on the calendar. Some
of the State's best barbecue is found here as well.
During storms, waves as large as twelve and fifteen foot high have
commonly been seen. Tall enough to breach the levy that has
protected the City of Okeechobee and the other smaller towns since
the 1928 hurricane that killed hundreds of people and flooded the City.
Okeechobee is a wonderful area to visit, the people are friendly, the
food is fantastic and the culture, well is a mixture of local Indians,
Western American (transplanted) with a Florida flare. Below is picture
of the Saw Grass that grows on the lake,(mentioned in Atlantis Vortex)
this Saw Grass - also called Razor Grass because IT IS SHARP grows
all the way around the lake. To get a good look at the lake, however,
you must stand a-top the levy. On a clear day, you can see the
southern shore, and if you are lucky, you might see an alligator. If you
are in Florida - put it on your places to visit list. It is worth it!
Lake Okeechobee on a beautiful, sunny, South Florida
afternoon. It was on an afternoon like this, from a
view like this that Jessica spotted a lump of pyramid
shapped mud. Now you can see why it took an Airboat
to get to the pyramid.
afternoon. It was on an afternoon like this, from a
view like this that Jessica spotted a lump of pyramid
shapped mud. Now you can see why it took an Airboat
to get to the pyramid.