Lake Olivia
Encyclopedia
Lake Olivia is an 89 acres (360,170.5 m²) freshwater lake located within the Avon Park Lakes
subdivision in northwest Highlands County, Florida
. It is to the northwest of the incorporated city of Avon Park
. Maximum depth is about 45 feet (13.7 m), with a fairly steep contour to the depth. The lake's shape is round. There were many years of drought, depleting the lake's water volume. The last two years saw more rain and a swampy area now surrounds almost all of Lake Olivia.
Fishing, walking and boating are popular activities. Fishing is apparently more productive at Lake Olivia than some other lakes. Almost daily people fish the south shore and many days people fish from boats in the lake. A reviewer wrote in the Fishing Works website he always catches numerous small fish at the lake. Until recently, there was swimming at three locations. Officially swimming has not been allowed for years, although this provision has not been enforced until July 2010. Now swimming is completely forbidden. The decision by Highlands County to forbid swimming was detailed in the April 2011 Avon Park Lakes Association Newsletter: "It seems the county put the signs up for two reasons; 1) the lake is not routinely tested by the county for the things other lakes are tested for and; 2) there are no bathroom facilities in the area for use by swimmers."
For a time, some of the amenities of Lake Olivia were a bit dilapidated. In the last few years, several improvements have been made. Amenities include three public boat ramps. One of the ramps is currently unusable, as the water level has been low for several years. A paved sidewalk surrounds the lake and covers approximately 1½ miles. Nautilus Drive completely surrounds the sidewalk. The entire shore is public parkland. Residential houses completely line Nautilus Drive opposite the sidewalk.
Avon Park Lakes
Avon Park Lakes is a residential community of several thousand people in northwest Highlands County, Florida. It is bounded by Polk County, Florida, on the north and Hardee County, Florida, on the west. On the northeast it is bounded by Lake Adelaide...
subdivision in northwest Highlands County, Florida
Highlands County, Florida
Highlands County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the population was 97,346. Its county seat is Sebring, Florida. The county comprises the Sebring, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. It is to the northwest of the incorporated city of Avon Park
Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
. Maximum depth is about 45 feet (13.7 m), with a fairly steep contour to the depth. The lake's shape is round. There were many years of drought, depleting the lake's water volume. The last two years saw more rain and a swampy area now surrounds almost all of Lake Olivia.
Fishing, walking and boating are popular activities. Fishing is apparently more productive at Lake Olivia than some other lakes. Almost daily people fish the south shore and many days people fish from boats in the lake. A reviewer wrote in the Fishing Works website he always catches numerous small fish at the lake. Until recently, there was swimming at three locations. Officially swimming has not been allowed for years, although this provision has not been enforced until July 2010. Now swimming is completely forbidden. The decision by Highlands County to forbid swimming was detailed in the April 2011 Avon Park Lakes Association Newsletter: "It seems the county put the signs up for two reasons; 1) the lake is not routinely tested by the county for the things other lakes are tested for and; 2) there are no bathroom facilities in the area for use by swimmers."
For a time, some of the amenities of Lake Olivia were a bit dilapidated. In the last few years, several improvements have been made. Amenities include three public boat ramps. One of the ramps is currently unusable, as the water level has been low for several years. A paved sidewalk surrounds the lake and covers approximately 1½ miles. Nautilus Drive completely surrounds the sidewalk. The entire shore is public parkland. Residential houses completely line Nautilus Drive opposite the sidewalk.