Lake Verona is located at the east end of Main Street (SR-64 E) within the city limits of

Avon Park, Florida Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 8,836, and in 2018 the estimated population was 10,695. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, ...

. While the

lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...

covers only , it is considered the deepest natural lake in peninsular Florida (at ~80 feet), with very steep banks, and a rapid drop-off. A boat ramp and turn-around exists where Church Street terminates at the lake shore adjacent to historic Donaldson Park. Picnic tables, shelter-houses, bathrooms, and barbecue grills are available. A broad white sand beach and public swimming area are present, although the lake is highly dangerous due to its depth and steep drop off. Life guards were once on duty, but such public safety measures are no longer present. Lake Verona is an entirely natural, land-locked, "collapse sink hole" lake, with white-sand beaches and clear water. It is the prominent feature of the City of Avon Park. The lake is one of the oldest lakes in the United States, estimated at 33,000+ years old. This has been established through radio-carbon dating of core samples from the bottom of the lake. Lake Tulane, its "sister" lake, located a short distance south, is dated at 60,000+ years old and, depending on the water levels at any given time, sometimes alternates title as the deepest lake in peninsular Florida.

References

Florida Lake Watch
Lakes of Highlands County, Florida Parks in Highlands County, Florida Lakes of Florida {{HighlandsCountyFL-geo-stub