kids encyclopedia robot

Lake Otis (Florida) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Lake Otis
Location of Lake Otis in Florida, USA.
Location of Lake Otis in Florida, USA.
Lake Otis
Location in Florida
Location of Lake Otis in Florida, USA.
Location of Lake Otis in Florida, USA.
Lake Otis
Location in the United States
Location Winter Haven, Florida
Coordinates 28°00′40″N 81°42′38″W / 28.011°N 81.7106°W / 28.011; -81.7106
Type natural freshwater lake
Basin countries United States
Max. length 4,855 feet (1,480 m)
Max. width 2,145 feet (654 m)
Surface area 144 acres (58 ha)
Average depth 12.2 feet (3.7 m)
Max. depth 34.5 feet (10.5 m)
Surface elevation 128 feet (39 m)

Lake Otis is a beautiful natural freshwater lake in Winter Haven, Florida. It's a great spot to learn about local lakes! Sometimes, people call it Little Otis, but this name isn't used everywhere.

Lake Otis covers about 144 acres (58 ha) of water. Imagine a big swimming pool, but much, much larger!

What Does Lake Otis Look Like?

The main part of Lake Otis is shaped a bit like a rectangle. On its south side, there's a long, narrow section that looks like a tail.

How is it Connected to Other Lakes?

Lake Otis is connected to a nearby lake called Lake Link. A small canal, about 50 feet (15 m) long, links the two lakes on the northeast side. This canal is where the two lakes are closest to each other.

A road called Lakewood Causeway also runs between Lake Otis and Lake Link.

Can You Visit Lake Otis?

Most of Lake Otis is surrounded by homes. This means it's not easy for the public to access the lake.

Public Access Points

There are no public boat ramps or swimming areas at Lake Otis. In fact, most of the shoreline is private.

A gated community is located south of the Lakewood Causeway. During the daytime, people can sometimes visit this area. However, another gated community surrounds most of the "tail" part of the lake. Its gates are always closed to the public.

The Lake's Shoreline

The banks around Lake Otis are quite steep. This makes it even harder to reach the water from the shore, except for the area near Lake Link.

What Fish Live in Lake Otis?

Even though public access is limited, Lake Otis is home to several types of fish. If you were able to fish here, you might find:

kids search engine
Lake Otis (Florida) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.