Lake Howard (Winter Haven, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Howard |
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 Lake Howard
Location in Florida
Lake Howard
Location in the United States
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| Location | Polk County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 28°1′26.34″N 81°44′38.58″W / 28.0239833°N 81.7440500°W |
| Type | natural freshwater lake |
| Primary outflows | Peace River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.25 miles (2.01 km) |
| Max. width | 1.03 miles (1.66 km) |
| Surface area | 624 acres (253 ha) |
| Average depth | 10.9 feet (3.3 m) |
| Max. depth | 18.7 feet (5.7 m) |
| Water volume | 2,270,506,840 US gallons (8.5948033×109 L) gallons |
| Surface elevation | 131 feet (40 m) |
| Settlements | Winter Haven, Florida |
Lake Howard is a natural freshwater lake. It is located in Winter Haven, Florida. This lake is an important part of the Peace River system. Lake Howard is also a key lake in Winter Haven's famous Chain of Lakes. It belongs to the southern chain of lakes. The lake connects to Lake Cannon on its northwest side. It also connects to Lake May on its southeast side. Lake Howard covers an area of 624 acres. Its average depth is about 10.9 feet (3.3 meters). The deepest part of the lake is 18.7 feet (5.7 meters).
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Discovering Lake Howard's Past
Long ago, the Calusa people were the first known residents near Lake Howard. Later, the Seminole people also lived and hunted around the lake. Dr. John Westcott first explored and mapped Lake Howard in 1849. He named the lake after the Howard family, who were his neighbors in Madison County, Florida. The name "Lake Howard" first appeared on official United States government maps in 1854.
Lake Howard became one of the first places where new American and European settlers built their homes. Some of the oldest houses in Winter Haven are found right on the lake's shores. Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church is on the northeast side of the lake. It is one of Winter Haven's oldest buildings. The Interlaken neighborhood is on the north side of Lake Howard. This area is a special U.S. Historic District. It has over 50 homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Protecting Lake Howard's Water Quality
By the late 1960s, Lake Howard started to face pollution problems. A major issue was that the Jan Phyll Village Waste Water Treatment Facility sometimes sent raw sewage directly into the lake. This problem was fixed in 1977 when the facility was updated. In 1980, an important study was done to help clean up Lake Howard's water. Many other scientific studies have been done since then. These studies often built on earlier research.
In 1995, Dr. T.J. Whitmore did a big study called paleolimnological research on Lake Howard. He looked at samples from the lake's bottom. By studying these samples, he could understand how water levels and water quality changed over many years. Today, the city, state, and federal governments are working hard to protect the lake. Their efforts are helping to improve the water quality. However, the fast growth of cities around the lake could threaten its health in the future.
Exploring Nearby Places at Lake Howard
Lake Howard is very close to downtown Winter Haven. Lake Howard Drive goes all the way around the lake. It is a busy road in the city. The lake is surrounded by both homes and businesses. There are two public boat ramps where you can launch a boat.
- Lake Howard Boat Ramp West: This ramp is at Lake Howard Drive and Avenue B NW. It has a boat ramp and a fishing pier.
- Lake Howard Boat Ramp East: This ramp is at Lake Howard Drive and West Central Avenue. It has a boat ramp, a fishing pier, a parking area, and a picnic spot.
South Lake Howard Nature Park: A Haven for Wildlife
South Lake Howard Nature Park is on the southwest side of Lake Howard. This park is very important for restoring the lake's natural environment. It also helps bring back natural wetlands in Winter Haven. The park has trails for walking and biking. It also has picnic areas and restrooms.
A wooden boardwalk goes over the wetlands in the park. This is a great place to see local wildlife. Many types of birds are often seen here. These include the great blue heron, green heron, great egret, and snowy egret. You might also spot osprey, grackle, and red-winged blackbird. Sometimes, even bald eagles visit the lake. The lake is also home to many alligators and other reptiles and amphibians. Lake Howard is known for excellent freshwater fishing. People especially enjoy catching large mouth bass and bluegill here. The Chain of Lakes Trail, a paved path for hiking and biking, starts at this park.
