What Is the Largest Lake In Florida and How Did Lake Okeechobee Get Its Name?

The huge body of water in the southern part of Florida is Lake Okeechobee, Florida’s largest lake.

It is second only to Lake Michigan as the largest body of freshwater wholly within U.S. boundaries.

Lake Okeechobee covers about 680 square miles (1,768 sq km).

Like Wisconsin, Florida can be called a land of lakes, some 30,000 shallow lakes are found in central Florida.

The name Okeechobee comes from the Hitchiti words “oki” for water, and “chubi” for big, and means “big water”.