All natural Florida lakes contain alligators and snakes. In addition, the majority of natural Florida lakes have dark or stained water limiting visibility. Alligators and snakes depend upon the ability to ambush prey to survive.
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Ponds, canals, lakes, swamps, and rivers are home to these giant reptiles. Zooming in on Florida, Lake Jesup claims the title of the most alligator-infested lake. Lake Jesup lies in Central Florida, the heart of Seminole County, covering approximately 16,000 acres of open water and marshes.
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.
Stay a safe distance from the shoreline (15 to 20 feet; 4.5 to 6 meters) and do not swim, snorkel, or dive where prohibited - in any canal, pond, freshwater lake, marked channel, or boat basin inside the park. Prevent small children and pets from approaching shorelines or basking alligators or crocodiles.
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.
While rare in Lake Okeechobee, Burmese pythons are occurring more frequently in the lake. The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) belongs to the python family Pythonidae. Historically from Southeast Asia, you can now find Burmese pythons throughout southern Florida.