Blue Cypress Lake
Encyclopedia
Blue Cypress Lake, originally called Lake Wilmington, is a lake
in Indian River County
of the Treasure Coast
in Florida
. It is the largest lake in the Treasure Coast
and Indian River County
. It is home to the origin of the St. Johns River
. It is believed that the source is on the northeastern portion of the lake. The lake is over 6,500 acres (26 km²) in size, 21 mi (34 km) in circumference, and has an average
depth of 8 feet (2 m). The lake is 2,100 acres (8.7 km²) larger than Lake Washington, 27 mi (43 km) north of this lake. The lake's name comes from the blue
appearance of the cypress
trees as the morning sun
's rays reflect off the water
. A fishing camp called Middletons Fishing Camp is 4 mi (6 km) off State Road 60.
camp on Blue Cypress Lake. The camp offers cabins, free primitive (tent) camping
, kayak
and boat
rentals, bait shop, ice, drinks and snack food. A boat ramp, dock
, picnic area and restrooms are adjacent at the Lakefront Park
. The camp is located at the westernmost point of the lake
. This fish camp is located in a hamlet named Blue Cypress Village, which has only 3 streets, 73rd Place, 73rd Lane, and 73rd Manor. It is 24 mi (39 km) from Fellsmere
by road.
. The lake is 21 mi (34 km) in diameter
and it is over 6,500 acres (26 km²) in size. It is directly west of Fellsmere
, 11 miles (17.7 km) away. To the north is Palm Bay
, to the west is Yeehaw Junction, and to the east is Fellsmere
.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Indian River County
Indian River County, Florida
Indian River County is a county located in the Treasure Coast region in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 112,947. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 128,594...
of the Treasure Coast
Treasure Coast
The Treasure Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida, generally considered to include Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties. The area stretches from Hobe Sound in the south to north of Sebastian in the north and includes the cities of Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It is the largest lake in the Treasure Coast
Treasure Coast
The Treasure Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida, generally considered to include Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties. The area stretches from Hobe Sound in the south to north of Sebastian in the north and includes the cities of Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach...
and Indian River County
Indian River County, Florida
Indian River County is a county located in the Treasure Coast region in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 112,947. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 128,594...
. It is home to the origin of the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
. It is believed that the source is on the northeastern portion of the lake. The lake is over 6,500 acres (26 km²) in size, 21 mi (34 km) in circumference, and has an average
Average
In mathematics, an average, or central tendency of a data set is a measure of the "middle" value of the data set. Average is one form of central tendency. Not all central tendencies should be considered definitions of average....
depth of 8 feet (2 m). The lake is 2,100 acres (8.7 km²) larger than Lake Washington, 27 mi (43 km) north of this lake. The lake's name comes from the blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
appearance of the cypress
Taxodium
Taxodium is a genus of one to three species of extremely flood-tolerant conifers in the cypress family, Cupressaceae...
trees as the morning sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
's rays reflect off the water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. A fishing camp called Middletons Fishing Camp is 4 mi (6 km) off State Road 60.
Middletons Fishing Camp
Middleton's Fish Camp is the only fishFish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
camp on Blue Cypress Lake. The camp offers cabins, free primitive (tent) camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
and boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
rentals, bait shop, ice, drinks and snack food. A boat ramp, dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
, picnic area and restrooms are adjacent at the Lakefront Park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
. The camp is located at the westernmost point of the lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
. This fish camp is located in a hamlet named Blue Cypress Village, which has only 3 streets, 73rd Place, 73rd Lane, and 73rd Manor. It is 24 mi (39 km) from Fellsmere
Fellsmere, Florida
Fellsmere is a city in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,813 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,658...
by road.
Geography
Blue Cypress Lake is located at 27°45′15"N 80°44′37"W. It is the headwaters of the St. Johns RiverSt. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
. The lake is 21 mi (34 km) in diameter
Diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle...
and it is over 6,500 acres (26 km²) in size. It is directly west of Fellsmere
Fellsmere, Florida
Fellsmere is a city in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,813 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,658...
, 11 miles (17.7 km) away. To the north is Palm Bay
Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,786 on 1 July 2008; it is the most populous city in the county...
, to the west is Yeehaw Junction, and to the east is Fellsmere
Fellsmere, Florida
Fellsmere is a city in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,813 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,658...
.
See also
- List of lakes of the St. Johns River
- Lake Washington, FL
- St. Johns RiverSt. Johns RiverThe St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
- Fellsmere, FloridaFellsmere, FloridaFellsmere is a city in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,813 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,658...
- Yeehaw Junction, FloridaYeehaw Junction, FloridaYeehaw Junction is a census-designated place in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 240...