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Lake Jessie (Winter Haven, Florida) facts for kids

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Lake Jessie
Location of Lake Jessie in Florida, USA.
Location of Lake Jessie in Florida, USA.
Lake Jessie
Location in Florida
Location of Lake Jessie in Florida, USA.
Location of Lake Jessie in Florida, USA.
Lake Jessie
Location in the United States
Location Winter Haven, Florida
Coordinates 28°03′28″N 81°45′47″W / 28.0578°N 81.7631°W / 28.0578; -81.7631
Type natural freshwater lake
Basin countries United States
Max. length 2,360 feet (720 m)
Max. width 1,540 feet (470 m)
Surface area 189 acres (76 ha)
Average depth 4.9 feet (1.5 m)
Max. depth 12.2 feet (3.7 m)
Water volume 503,694,517 US gallons (1.90669116×109 L)
Surface elevation 131 feet (40 m)

Lake Jessie is a lovely freshwater lake located in Winter Haven, Florida. It has a somewhat oval shape and covers about 189-acre (760,000 m2) of water. This lake is found on the northwest side of Winter Haven and is just east of Auburndale, Florida. It's a great spot to learn about Florida's natural beauty and how lakes connect to each other.

Discovering Lake Jessie

Lake Jessie is a natural lake, meaning it was formed by nature, not by people. It's filled with fresh water, which is important for the plants and animals that live there. The lake is not very deep, with an average depth of about 4.9 feet (1.5 m) and a maximum depth of 12.2 feet (3.7 m).

Where is Lake Jessie Located?

You can find Lake Jessie in Polk County, Florida. It's nestled between the cities of Winter Haven and Auburndale. The lake is surrounded by different types of land.

  • West Shore: Many homes are built along the northwest and west sides of the lake.
  • South Shore: As you move south along the west shore, the homes continue until the south shore meets the east shore. Here, a small canal separates the houses from some woods.
  • East and Northeast Shores: The entire east and northeast sides of the lake are part of the Winter Haven Municipal Airport. This means planes, especially seaplanes, use this area!
  • North Shore: Most of the northern side of the lake is bordered by more woods, giving it a natural feel.

Lake Jessie and Seaplanes

One unique thing about Lake Jessie is its connection to the Winter Haven Municipal Airport. A special place called Jack Brown's Seaplane Base is located on the northeast shore. This base uses the lake for seaplane takeoffs and landings. Imagine seeing planes land and take off right from the water!

How to Access Lake Jessie

If you want to visit Lake Jessie, there's a public boat ramp on the west side of the lake. This is where Morton Road ends, making it easy for people to launch their boats.

Lake Jessie is also connected to other lakes through canals:

  • A canal on the southeast corner connects Lake Jessie to Lake Idylwild.
  • Another canal near Jack Brown's Seaplane Base connects to Lake Mariana to the north. However, this canal is quite small and sometimes boats can't pass through it easily.

Part of the Chain of Lakes

Lake Jessie is an important part of the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes system. This is a cool network of many lakes connected by canals. It means you can often travel by boat from one lake to another, covering a good distance without ever leaving the water! Lake Jessie is part of the southern section of this famous chain.

What Lives in Lake Jessie?

While Lake Jessie doesn't have public swimming areas, it's a great place for fishing! According to the Take Me Fishing website, the lake is home to different types of fish.

These fish are common in Florida's freshwater lakes and are popular with anglers.

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