Lake Okeechobee authorized uses for Lake Okeechobee include the following: The wide dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee is the basis for the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST), a part of the Florida National Scenic Trail, a trail that is a National Scenic Trail. There is a well-maintained paved pathway along the majority of the perimeter, although with significant breaks. It is used by hikers and bicyclists, and is wide enough to accommodate vehicles. The most common fish in this lake are largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. Pickerel have been less commonly caught. Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades are featured as a backdrop for
Lake Okeechobee one point near the center of the lake. The name "Okeechobee" comes from the Hitchiti words "oki" (water) and "chubi" (big). Mayaimi, meaning "big water," is the oldest known name, as reported in the 16th century, by Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda. Slightly later in the 16th century René Goulaine de Laudonnière reported hearing about a large freshwater lake in southern Florida called "Serrope". By the 18th century the largely mythical lake was known to British mapmakers and chroniclers by the Spanish name "Laguna de Espiritu Santo." In the early 19th century it was known as "Mayacco Lake" or "Lake Mayaca"