Lake Istokpoga

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Istokpoga
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Highlands County, Florida
coords = coord|27|22|N|81|17|W|type:waterbody_region:US-FL|display=inline,title
type = Fishing
inflow =Arbuckle Creek, Josephine Creek
outflow =C41 canal
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|10|mi|km|0
width = convert|5|mi|km|0
area = convert|28000|acre|km2|0
depth = convert|4|ft|m|1
max-depth = convert|10|ft|m|1
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =37.5–39.5 ft (11.4–12.0 m)
islands = Big, Bumble Bee
cities =Lorida, Sebring, Lake Placid
frozen =

Lake Istokpoga is a 28,000 acre freshwater lake in Highlands County, Florida. The oblong-shaped lake is 5 miles wide by 10 miles long. Despite its area, it is very shallow, with an average depth of only 4 feet. Maximum depth is 10 feet. As a result, boaters must be cautious to not become stranded in muck near the shore line. Bass and Pontoon boats are the most commonly used watercraft, with some use of air boats. With such shallowness, this lake is extremely dangerous for boaters during windstorms, as the waves get quite high.

Boating and fishing are popular activities at this lake. There are 7 fish camps on Lake Istokpoga. Several of these fish camps book visitors for fishing trips and they also have cabins and hook up for campers, for overnight stays . The amenities on the lake are 5 public boat ramps and 2 public parks, one on the lake's north side and the other on the south east corner. Most of the shoreline is undeveloped and there are 2 islands Big and Bumble Bee in the lake's interior. Some residential properties and private boat docks and beaches dot areas on the shore.

Istokpoga is Seminole Indian for "our people died there" because a group of Seminole Indians attempted to cross the lake and were bogged in the mire and swallowed by whirlpools.

References

* [http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/ Florida Lakewatch]
* [http://sos-floridalakes.org/ S.O.S. Florida Lakes, Inc.]
* [http://www.istokpoga.org/ Friends of Istokpoga]