Lake Okeechobee

USA / Florida / Pahokee /
Locally referred to as Lake O or The Big Lake. Seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States. To travel around the lake is 110 miles. Once a year, a bike-a-thon is held to loop the lake. Also, several large freshwater fishing tournaments are held here throughout the year.

The name "Okeechobee" comes from the Creek Indian words "Okee Chobee" (properly spelled Okv Chobv), meaning "Big Water".
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Okeechobee
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   26°56'41"N   80°51'53"W

Comments

  • Second largest freshwater lake "wholly within" the United States. The name Okeechobee comes from the Hitchiti words "oki" (water) and "chubi" (big), and literally means "big water". Also previously called Macaco and Mayaimi, the latter being the origin of the name of the city Miami, Florida by way of the Miami River.
  • They are also not wholly within the United States, being as though they share a shoreline with Canada too.
  • First image is public domain, created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Okeechobee_lake.jpg Second image is public domain, as stated by creator/uploader "Fl295" at en.Wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lake_Okeechobee.JPG
  • Largest single freshwater body entirely in the US (Lake Michigan doesn't really count as it's tidally connected to Lake Huron, a borderline Lake by the Mackinac straits).