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Kingsley Lake
Kingsley lake.PNG
Location of Kingsley Lake in Florida, USA.
Location of Kingsley Lake in Florida, USA.
Kingsley Lake
Location in Florida
Location of Kingsley Lake in Florida, USA.
Location of Kingsley Lake in Florida, USA.
Kingsley Lake
Location in the United States
Location Clay County, Florida,
United States
Coordinates 29°57′53″N 081°59′53″W / 29.96472°N 81.99806°W / 29.96472; -81.99806
Basin countries United States
Surface area 2,000 acres (810 ha)
Max. depth approx. 100 ft (30 m)
Surface elevation 174 ft (53 m)

Kingsley Lake is a super cool lake in Northeast Florida. It's almost perfectly round, like a giant silver dollar! This is why pilots often call it the "silver dollar lake."

The lake covers about 2,000 acres (809 hectares) and is located in Clay County. It's about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of a town called Starke, Florida. Some people say it's the oldest and highest lake in all of Florida.

Kingsley Lake has a sandy bottom and is very stable. Its deepest spot is about 100 feet (30 meters) down. This deep part is inside a steep sinkhole within the lake. But don't worry, the lake itself is not considered a sinkhole.

You'll find about 180 docks around the lake. Most of these are on the western side, near a small community that shares the lake's name. On the eastern side of the lake is Camp Blanding, which is part of the Florida National Guard. There's also a small airstrip nearby, also part of Camp Blanding.

The lake is pretty central to some bigger cities. It's about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Gainesville. It's also 30 miles southwest of Jacksonville. And it's about 30 miles northwest of Palatka.

How Kingsley Lake Was Formed

Kingsley Lake is believed to have formed a long, long time ago. Scientists think it started as a sinkhole.

A sinkhole happens when the ground collapses. This usually occurs when there are caves underground. If the roof of a cave falls in, it creates a hole on the surface. Over time, this hole can fill with water and become a lake.

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