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Lake Hancock

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Primary outflows
  
Peace River (Florida)

Surface area
  
4,573 acres (18.51 km)

Max. depth
  
16 ft (4.9 m)

Mean depth
  
1.22 m

Cities
  
Bartow, Highland City

Basin countries
  
United States

Average depth
  
4 ft (1.2 m)

Area
  
18.51 km²

Outflow location
  
Peace River

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Coordinates
  
27° 58' 15"N 81° 50' 17"W

Similar
  
Circle B Bar Reserve, Lake Parker, Lake Hollingsworth, Polk County Historical, Banana Lake Park

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Lake Hancock is a lake located north of Bartow, Florida in Polk County, Florida. Lake Hancock is located in the Polk Upland area between the Winter Haven Ridge and Lakeland Ridge. As part of the upper Peace River watershed, the lake has ecological importance throughout southwest Florida according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Lake Hancock is shallow with an average depth of four feet and a maximum depth of 16 feet (4.9 m). At 4,573 acres (18.51 km2), the lake is one of the largest lakes in Polk County, Florida; the center of the cities of Bartow, Lakeland, and Winter Haven roughly form an equilateral triangle with sides of 12 miles (19 km) and Lake Hancock forms over 25% of that triangle. The first settlements in the area occurred in 1849 when small farms were established in the area as a result of migration from a hurricane in the Tampa Bay area.

Contents

Map of Lake Hancock, Florida, USA

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Flora and Fauna

The lake is surrounded by cypress forests with the understory primarily red maple and black willow. The open areas of the lake are relatively free from native vegetation, although hydrilla can occasionally be an issue and algae is abundant.

There is a substantial American alligator presence along the shoreline feeding on one of the largest colonial wading bird rookeries in central Florida. Although many lakes in Polk County are utilized by sports fishermen, Lake Hancock has not been used for recreational fishing in decades. The dominant fish in the lake are blue tilapia and threadfin shad, and suckermouth catfish.

References

Lake Hancock Wikipedia