Lake Harris (Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Harris |
|
|---|---|
Looking east from Singletary Park
|
|
 Lake Harris
Location in Florida
Lake Harris
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Lake County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 28°46′4″N 81°48′57″W / 28.76778°N 81.81583°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 13,788 acres (55.80 km2) |
| Surface elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
Lake Harris is a large lake located in Lake County, Florida, United States. It's about 31 miles (50 km) northwest of the city of Orlando. This lake is part of a bigger system called the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin. This basin is like a large area of land where all the water flows into the St. Johns River.
Lake Harris is also one of seven lakes that are connected. These lakes are known as the Harris Chain of Lakes or the "Ocklawaha Chain of Lakes."
Contents
About Lake Harris
Lake Harris is the biggest lake that is completely inside Lake County. It covers a huge area of about 13,788 acres (56 km2). If you look at it from above, it has a very interesting, uneven shape.
Right next to Lake Harris, to the east of SR 19, is a smaller bay called Little Lake Harris. When you add both lakes together, their total size is more than 15,000 acres (61 km2).
What's Around the Lake?
The northeastern side of Lake Harris is an important area for planes. It's used as a landing path for Leesburg International Airport. The city of Leesburg is located on the northwestern shore of the lake. It's like a harbor city for the lake.
At the very western tip of the lake, you'll find U.S. Route 27 and SR 25. These are major roads that run nearby.
Water Flow in Lake Harris
The main source of water flowing into Lake Harris is the Palatlakaha River. This river enters the lake at its southwestern shore. The Palatlakaha River actually starts from a group of lakes to the south, known as the Clermont chain of lakes.
Other smaller rivers also bring water into Lake Harris. These include Helena Run and water from many small natural springs located in Yalaha.
Lake Depth and Surroundings
Lake Harris is much deeper than Lake Okeechobee, which is another large lake to the south. Lake Harris has many deep spots and ledges underwater.
The land around the lake is covered with sandhills and cypress trees. This area is part of the Lake Wales Ridge, also known as the Central Florida Ridge. This region has some of the highest points in central Florida. For example, Sugarloaf Mountain reaches 312 feet (95 m) above sea level. This is quite hilly compared to most of Florida, which is very flat.
Getting Around the Lake
If you want to launch a boat on Lake Harris, there are three public ramps available. One is off U.S. Route 27 on the west side. Another is at Venetian Gardens in Leesburg. The third is Hickory Point, near the Howey-in-the-Hills bridge off SR 19.
There's also a smaller boat ramp on the east side of Little Lake Harris. You can find this one in the town of Astatula.
Lake's Edge and Bottom
The edges of Lake Harris are mostly surrounded by tall plants like cattail and bullrush. You'll only see boats, docks, or seawalls in certain spots. The water in these grassy areas is usually between 2 to 5 feet (0.61 to 1.52 m) deep.
The bottom of the lake is mostly hard sand. However, in some marshy areas, the bottom is much softer. These sheltered spots around the lake's edge can be great places to fish, especially when the weather isn't very good.
Origin of the Name
Lake Harris was named after Ebenezer Jackson Harris (1815–1885). He was an early settler who lived in Yalaha, on the south side of the lake, in the 1840s.
Before it was called Lake Harris, the lake was known as "Lake Eustis" starting in 1823. It was named to honor Colonel Abraham Eustis. Today, a different freshwater lake to the north is called Lake Eustis, honoring that pioneer. The modern-day Lake Eustis is connected directly to Lake Harris by the Dead River. Lake Harris was also known by its Seminole name, Astatula.
