LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND SAFETY FROM TROPICAL STORMS

Abstract

SYNOPSIS This paper describes Lake Okeechobee as to area, depth, configuration, drainage area, and other features, particularly with reference to the hurricane disasters of 1926 and 1928. Lake Okeechobee is in the south-central portion of the Florida peninsula; it is between 30 and 40 miles in diameter. The surface of the lake is between 700 and 800 square miles; its depth varies from a maximum of 15 feet to only a few inches at the outer circumference, especially on the south and west shores where the water is shallow. The configuration of the lake is nearly round, and its drainage area comprises 5,300 square miles. The Everglades, an area about 90 miles long and 40 miles wide, compose an area of 4,500 square miles; they are just to the south of the lake and over which shore (south) the flood waters of Lake Okeechobee found their exit to a large extent. It was to drain these glades that inspired the first efforts of Gov. N. B. Broward in seeking a platform in race for governor. Broward made the race on “...