Lake Olivia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Olivia |
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 Lake Olivia
Location in Florida
Lake Olivia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Highlands County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°37′57″N 81°32′52″W / 27.6325°N 81.5479°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 89 acres (36 ha) |
| Max. depth | 45 ft (14 m) |
Lake Olivia is a beautiful freshwater lake in Highlands County, Florida. It covers about 89 acres, which is like 67 football fields! This round-shaped lake is located near the city of Avon Park.
Lake Olivia can be quite deep, reaching about 45 feet in some spots. For many years, the lake's water level was low due to dry weather. However, recent rains have helped bring the water back up. Now, a swampy area has grown around most of the lake's edges.
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Fun Activities at Lake Olivia
Lake Olivia is a great place for outdoor activities. Many people enjoy fishing, walking, and boating here.
Fishing at Lake Olivia
Fishing is very popular at Lake Olivia. Many people say it's a good spot to catch fish. You can often see people fishing from the south shore. Some even go out in boats to fish in the middle of the lake. One person who reviewed the lake online said they always catch lots of small fish there.
Walking and Boating
If you love to walk, you'll enjoy the paved sidewalk that goes all the way around the lake. It's about 1.5 miles long, perfect for a nice stroll or a jog. The entire shoreline of Lake Olivia is a public park, so everyone can enjoy the views.
Boating is another favorite activity. There are three public boat ramps for launching boats. However, one of the ramps can't be used right now because the water level is still a bit low in that area.
Swimming Rules
In the past, people used to swim in Lake Olivia at a few different spots. But now, swimming is not allowed at all. This rule was put in place by Highlands County for two main reasons. First, the county doesn't regularly test the lake water for safety like they do for other swimming areas. Second, there are no public restrooms nearby for swimmers to use.
Improvements and Facilities
Over the years, Lake Olivia has seen many improvements to make it even better for visitors.
Recent Upgrades
A few years ago, some of the facilities at Lake Olivia were getting old. For example, an old fishing dock was taken down in 2008. But between 2009 and 2012, many new things were added or fixed.
In March 2012, the main boat ramp on the south side of the lake was partly rebuilt. At the same time, a new and bigger fishing dock was built. This new dock replaced the old one that was removed. Many sections of the paved sidewalk around the lake were also replaced between 2009 and 2011, making it smoother for walkers.
The road called Nautilus Drive goes all the way around the sidewalk. On the other side of Nautilus Drive, you'll see many houses that line the lake.
