Lake Okeechobee Valley and the Everglades. The trough is underlain by clay deposits that compacted more than the limestone and sand deposits did along both coasts of peninsular Florida. Until about 6,000 years ago, the trough was dry land. As the sea level rose, the water table in Florida also rose and rainfall increased. From 6,000 to 4,000 years ago, wetlands formed building up peat deposits. Eventually the water flow into the area created a lake, drowning the wetlands. Along what is now the southern edge of the lake, the wetlands built up the layers of peat rapidly enough (reaching thick) to
Lake Dexter (Polk County, Florida) Lake Dexter (Polk County, Florida) Lake Dexter, which is somewhat apostrophe shaped, is a natural freshwater lake in southeast Winter Haven, Florida. This lake has a surface area. It is bounded on the east and northeast by residences, on the north by commercial property, on the northwest by residences and along its entire southwest and southern shore area by grassland. A partially completed and abandoned residential project is in the grassland at the very south side of Lake Dexter. Parts of the shore around the lake are lined by swampy areas. Possibly the south and southeast shores of Lake Dexter