Is it safe to swim in Lake Okeechobee?

Visiting Lake Okeechobee is worth it for many folks interested in fishing, nature, hiking, and other outdoor activities. It is not, however, an experience for those who wish to go swimming, wading, or otherwise come into contact with the water. The alligators alone make the lake a dangerous spot.



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Toxic algae fed by agricultural fertilizers spread across the wide, shallow lake, which is the largest in the Southeast United States. The algae poisons the air, and seasonal rains threaten to swell the lake and disperse the contaminated water toward popular beaches.

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The most polluted lake in Florida is Lake Okeechobee. It features high levels of toxic algae and agricultural runoff.

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Lake Okeechobee is known for its superior fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Speckled Perch. Each year the lake is visited by thousands of anglers and water fowl hunters to enjoy one of our natural resources. Visitors also visit Lake Okeechobee to photograph the flora and fauna and breathtaking views of the area.

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Lake Okeechobee is known for its superior fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Speckled Perch. Each year the lake is visited by thousands of anglers and water fowl hunters to enjoy one of our natural resources. Visitors also visit Lake Okeechobee to photograph the flora and fauna and breathtaking views of the area.

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In and around Lake Okeechobee, you can find various water and wading birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. The lake's diverse wildlife makes it a prime habitat for many of the snakes found in Florida. South Florida is home to 34 of the 46 snake species native to the state as well as 3 non-native species.

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The water is dark water due to at least two factors: naturally occurring tannins and “muck”. 1. Naturally occurring tannins from decaying organic matter and tree roots create a tea-like color and clarity in the water.

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The Florida Department of Health advises against it, according to its website. Fish tested from water with blue-green algae show that cyanotoxins don't accumulate much in the edible parts — muscle or fillet — of fish, but can in other organs, its website says. The safest choice is to not harvest or eat these fish.

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As a precaution, I'd say don't eat any fish from anywhere in the lake right now, said Paul Gray, an Audubon biologist who's been studying Lake O for 30 years. Even if you don't see algae in the water, there can still be toxins in the water because when the algae dies, the toxins remain.

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Lake Okeechobee is 35 miles long and sits at the northern edge of the Florida Everglades. The lake draws visitors from all over the world to stay in its convenient Okeechobee vacation homes and to take advantage of all the attractions the area has to offer.

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