USA - April 4th, 2010

The waters of Lake Okeechobee appear light brown from sediments in this image of the state of Florida, USA. Okeechobee is a freshwater lake and the largest body of water in Florida, covering 730 square miles (1,890 km²). It is, however, relatively shallow, with an average depth of only 9 feet (3 m).

With regards to environmental concerns, during a drought in 2007, state water and wildlife managers removed thousands of truckloads of toxic mud from the lake’s floor, in an effort to restore the lake’s natural sandy base and create clearer water and better habitat for wildlife.

The mud contained elevated levels of arsenic and other pesticides. According to tests from the South Florida Water Management District, arsenic levels on the northern part of the lake bed were as much as four times the limit for residential land.

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