Lake Bess facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Bess |
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Location | Polk County, Florida |
Coordinates | 27°58′00″N 81°39′12″W / 27.9667°N 81.6534°W |
Lake type | natural freshwater lake |
Basin countries | United States |
Max. length | 4,000 feet (1,200 m) |
Max. width | 2,385 feet (727 m) |
Surface area | 147 acres (59 ha) |
Surface elevation | 125 feet (38 m) |
Settlements | Winter Haven, Florida |
Lake Bess is a natural freshwater lake located in Polk County, Florida. It sits southeast of the city of Winter Haven, Florida. This lake has a unique pear shape. It covers an area of about 147 acres (59 ha).
What is Lake Bess Like?
Lake Bess is surrounded by different types of land. Near its northeast side, you can find a large WalMart store. Just north of that is Cypress Gardens Boulevard, a busy road.
Surrounding Areas
- Northwest Side: A private neighborhood with a gate is located here.
- West Side: Lake Bess is very close to another lake called Lake Ruby. Only a small strip of land, about 40 feet (12 m) wide, separates the two lakes.
- Southwest Side: You will see more homes and neighborhoods.
- Southeast Side: This area is mostly open fields used for farming or grazing animals.
- East Side: There are two country clubs, Lake Bess Country Club and Care Free Country Club, along with mobile homes.
Public Access and Fishing
Lake Bess is completely surrounded by private land. This means there are no public places to swim or launch a boat. You also cannot just walk up to the lake to fish.
If you want to fish in Lake Bess, you need to get permission from the people who own the land around it. Even though public access is limited, websites like Hook and Bullet say that the lake is home to several types of fish. These include blue catfish, gar, and crappie.