Clermont Chain of lakes

The Clermont chain of lakes is a chain of lakes centered on Clermont, Florida. The chain is orientated from southeast to northwest and fed primarily by streams and groundwater flow. They make up the middle part of the Palatlakaha River watershed which forms the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River. The lakes are notable for their red to tea colored water from tannic acid. US 27 parallels the chain to the east.

The 3 largest lakes, Louisa, Minnehaha, and Minneola constitute the main part of the chain.

Louisa the largest lake, is shallow and flat bottomed at around 10 feet. It features Lake Louisa State Park on its southern shore. The rest of the lakeshore is developed with suburban subdivisions. Through the park flows the primary inflows of the lake. Little Creek originates from the Lake/Polk County border and Big Creek starts from the area of the Green Swamp adjacent to the Lake Wales Ridge around Lake Lowery in Polk County as Green Swamp Run.

From the north end of Lake Louisa flows Crooked Creek into Lake Susan, a small lake with similar depth to Lake Louisa surrounded by swampland. There is a public boat ramp on Crooked Creek.

A short river connects Lake Susan to Lake Minnehaha, the second largest lake. Minnehaha averages 14 feet in depth with areas over 18 feet deep. Lake Minnehaha is more developed than Louisa with suburban housing along all but a bay on its northwest shoreline, Cypress Cove, which is swampland unsuitable for development.

From Lake Minnehaha a neck connects it to Lake Palatlakaha which is undeveloped except for an active adult community on its eastern shore. A canal connects Lake Palatlakaha to Lake Hiawatha, also mostly undeveloped aside from the Clermont community of Hiawatha Shores and the former Jahna West Clermont Sand Mine which is being converted into a community on the south shore.

A neck separates Lake Hiawatha from Lake Minneola the third largest lake in the chain and the deepest at around 18 feet in depth with parts close to downtown Clermont approaching near 30 feet in depth. Minneola is also the most developed lake with downtown Clermont and Minneola along its south and eastern shores. The Palatlakaha River flows out of Crystal Cove on its northwest shore. There is a public boat ramp and swimming area on Waterfront Park.

...
Wikipedia