When you think of Lakeland, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Lakes? Swans? Publix?

What about sinkholes?

DYK: Florida is one of the top seven states that is the most at risk for sinkhole activity? If you’re new here, a sinkhole can be defined as “a hole formed in soluble rock by the action of water, serving to conduct surface water to an underground passage.”

A map of Polk County’s sinkholes | Screenshot via Maps ETC

And, because of the nature of Florida’s terrain and its susceptibility to sinkholes, many of the ponds, lakes, and depressions were caused by this phenomenon.

Even some of the larger lakes and ponds were formed by a cluster of sinkholes that eventually opened up into one large, lake-like hole.

In fact, the most common origin of a lake formation is by a process called karst erosion, which takes place in order for sinkholes to occur.

Polk secures a yellow marker meaning that the county falls into the category of 100-999 sinkholes. | Screenshot from sinkholemaps.com

All this talk of the earth opening up led us to a couple of questions: Were any of Lakeland’s lakes formed by sinkholes? Or, are all of Lakeland’s lakes purely man-made?

Here’s what we know:

38. That’s the number of lakes within Lakeland’s city limits.
7. Where Polk County ranked on RiskMeter’s Top 10 Sinkhole-Prone Counties in Florida list.
567. The number of reported sinkholes in Polk County.
94%. The percentage of lakes or “water-features” in Polk that are located within either the Alafia, Kissimmee, or Peace River Basin(s) – “Lakes located on the ridge areas are thought to occupy depressions formed by sinkholes.”
900. That’s how many lakes or “water-features” sit in Polk with a surface area of 10 acres or more as of 2006.
2006. That’s the year that Lake Scott began to drain due to two large sinkholes that opened up at around 200 ft. wide + 15 ft. deep.
5,200. That’s the estimated coverage of Winter Haven’s 50 lakes – most of which are “solution lakes,” meaning they were formed similarly to sinkholes.
7,800. That’s the number of “naturally-made” lakes in the Sunshine State as of 2016.
4. What Polk County ranked in the State of Florida for counties with the most lakes.

Winter Haven’s sinkhole formed Lakes as of ‘06 | Screenshot via “Hydrology of Polk County, Florida”

The final verdict remains unclear whether or not Lakeland’s lakes were a product of sinkhole activity. However, if you happen to know the answer to our question, be sure to drop us a line.

Poll

/**/