The Harris Chain of Lakes The nine lakes of the Harris Chain total approximately 76,000 acres.  The Harris Chain is world renowned for it's natural beauty and great fishing.  These lakes are dark and rich in nutrients.   All of the lakes are interconnected with the exception of Lake Yale which is landlocked. The Harris Chain is part of the Florida Ocklawaha Basin which drains Central Florida to the north and is connected to the St Johns River which enters the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville. During World War II, vegetable farms sprang up around the shores of Lake Apopka to provide food for the war effort.   Runoff from these farms and from other local sources caused Lake Apopka to become overloaded with fertilizer and other nutrients.  The water quality and great bass fishing that this lake was once known for was adversely effected which caused the State of Florida to purchase and close these farms in the nineties. Much work has been done and is still underway to restore these lakes.   In recent years, the fish have returned and the water clarity has greatly improved.  Local bass fishing tournaments are held on a weekly basis and the Harris Chain has returned as a stop on the B.A.S.S. Tournament Trail with its great fishing being highlighted on ESPN and many outdoor TV shows. In addition to the great fishing, the Harris Chain is a Jet-Ski and cruising paradise. With so much water to explore, it is possible to cruise for a lifetime in these waters and not see everything there is to see.   Big and Little Lake Harris At over 15,00 acres, Big and Little Lake Harris combined are among the largest lakes in Florida.  Big Lake Harris' has an average depth in the center of about 12 feet with many deep holes and ledges.  The lake is surrounded by beautiful hills and cypress trees.   This is the part of Florida some Orlando residents call "The Mountains".  Local humor to be sure, but compared to the rest of Florida which is flat as a pancake, it is very hilly. There are three main public launching ramps on Big Lake Harris; one off of US Highway 27 to the west, Venetian Gardens in Leesburg and Hickory Point near the Howey bridge off State Road 19.  The lakes are almost totally ringed with Kissimmee grass and reeds except for the occasional boat dock or seawall.  The depth in the grass normally ranges from 2-5 feet.  The bottom is mostly hard sand except for some shallow marshy areas where the bottom is soft mud.  These lakes are great for water and jet skiing. In the last 10 years, the lakes have cleaning up considerably bringing more boating activity.  Still, it's a fraction of the traffic found on most Orlando lakes. Lake Eustis Lake Eustis covers 7,806 acres and is connected to Big Lake Harris through the mile long Dead River, Lake Dora through the Dora Canal and Lake Griffin through Haines Creek.  Both Haines Creek, the Dora Canal and the Dead River are navigable in a small boat. Surrounding Lake Eustis are numerous residential canals which at certain times of the year can have very productive fishing.  Lake Eustis is also where most of the waterfront restaurants are located.  The original Dead River Vics Restaurant is on the Dead River.   It is also possible to dock at the City of Eustis Municipal docks and walk to the Crazy Gator Restaurant or visit downtown Eustis.  T Bones Steak House and the Third Place Restaurant are also popular with downtown visitors. There are two public boat ramps on Lake Eustis.  The popular Buzzard Beach ramp is located between Tavares and Leesburg on State Road 441.  The Eustis city ramp is located on Lakeshore Drive just south of the City of Eustis. Lakes Dora, Carlton and Beauclair Together, the East Harris Chain lakes; Dora, Beauclair and Lake Carlton cover 4,475 acres.   They are connected to Lake Eustis on the north through the Dora Canal and to Lake Apopka to the South through the Apopka Beauclair Canal.  Mount Dora is a beautiful quaint lakeside village located directly on the shores of Lake Dora.  This city is the home of the Mount Dora Art Festival, which attracts nearly 250,000 visitors annually.  The City of Tavares, also located on Lake Dora is the County Seat and also hosts the popular Antique Boat Show in the Spring of each year. South of Lake Dora is Lake Beauclair and tiny Lake Carlton.  Lake Carlton can be reached through a small inlet on the southern shore of Lake Beauclair.  There are three public boat ramps on the East Harris Chain lakes; two on Lake Dora and one in the Town of Lake Jem.  The Lake Jem ramp is on the Apopka Beauclair canal. Lake Griffin Lake Griffin, on the end of the Chain, is the last major body of water before the Ocklawaha River turns north and flows through the Ocala National Forest as it winds towards the St. Johns and Jacksonville.  Lake Griffin is seven miles long and has two flood control locks on each end.  Lake Griffin is one of the lakes that has benefited greatly from recent lake restoration efforts.   A few years ago, after a prolonged drought, the lakes visability went from 7 inches to seven feet. We invite you to tour this website in detail, especially taking the time to browse and view our property database.  If you would like more information about Lake County real estate, please contact us. Call Toll Free:  800 260-2829

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