Lake Hamilton (Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Hamilton |
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Location | northeast edge of Winter Haven, Florida, and city of Lake Hamilton |
Coordinates | 28°03′10″N 81°39′17″W / 28.0528°N 81.6548°W |
Type | natural freshwater lake |
Primary outflows | 2 |
Basin countries | United States |
Max. length | 2.65 miles (4.26 km) |
Max. width | 2.14 miles (3.44 km) |
Surface area | 2,184 acres (884 ha) |
Average depth | 7.2 feet (2.2 m) |
Max. depth | 23.4 feet (7.1 m) |
Water volume | 5,815,439,051 US gallons (2.201383151×1010 L) |
Surface elevation | 121 feet (37 m) |
Islands | 1 peninsula Island one original Island another small island and possibly a fourth island |
Lake Hamilton is a large, natural freshwater lake located in Florida, USA. It sits on the northeast edge of Winter Haven and also borders the city of Lake Hamilton. This lake is known for its interesting shape and is a popular spot in the area.
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Exploring Lake Hamilton's Features
Lake Hamilton has a somewhat round shape, but it also has a big cove on its northwest side. A long piece of land, sometimes called Bonars Island, sticks out about 2,000 feet (610 m) into the lake from the north. When the water levels are high, this peninsula can actually become a large island!
How Big is Lake Hamilton?
This lake covers a surface area of 2,184-acre (8,840,000 m2). That's a lot of water! It's one of the biggest lakes in the Winter Haven area.
Islands of Lake Hamilton
You'll find several islands in Lake Hamilton. There's a large island in the south-central part of the lake, which is about 1,410 feet (430 m) long and 1,060 feet (320 m) wide. Another big island is closer to the northeast shore, measuring 825 feet (251 m) long and 470 feet (140 m) wide. There are also at least two smaller islands in the lake.
What's Around the Lake?
Parts of Lake Hamilton's shoreline are surrounded by homes. You can also spot a mobile home park on its northeast side. A golf course runs along the southwest shore, and US Highway 27 is close to the lake on much of its east side. At the north end of the cove, there's a swampy area.
Fun Things to Do at Lake Hamilton
Public access to Lake Hamilton is limited, but there's one main spot where everyone can enjoy the lake.
Sample Park: Your Access Point
The only public access to Lake Hamilton is at Sample Park, which is located along US 27. This park is a great place to visit! It has a nice picnic area where you can relax and eat. There's also a public boat ramp, so if you have a boat, you can easily launch it here to explore the lake. However, it's important to know that there are no public swimming areas at Lake Hamilton.
Part of the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes
Lake Hamilton is an important part of the northern system of the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. This means it's connected to several other lakes!
Connected Waterways
Lake Hamilton is connected to other lakes through canals. On its west side, a canal connects it to Lake Fannie via a boat lift (though this lift isn't working right now). To its north, it connects to Lake Henry, and on its east side, it connects to Middle Lake Hamilton. These connections allow boats to travel between the lakes, making it a fun system to explore.
Fish You Might Find
While there isn't specific information about fish just for Lake Hamilton, the Chain of Lakes it belongs to is known for certain types of fish. Anglers often catch largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill in these connected lakes. So, if you enjoy fishing, these are some of the fish you might be able to catch in Lake Hamilton!