There's an Entire Village Hidden Underwater at this Florida Lake

If you've lived in Florida most of your life, you're probably familiar with Lake Okeechobee, the second-largest body of fresh water in the entire United States. Lake Okeechobee is nearly 30 miles wide and has become a prized fishing and vacation spot in the southwestern corner of the state.

Photo byJay Piccolo/Burst

But there is a dark history to Lake Okeechobee that most people are completely unaware of.

Back in the early 1900s, the water near the southernmost tip of the lake began to dry up more than usual. Suddenly, the dried-up portion of the lake revealed a disturbing underwater ghost town of graves. dozens of skeletons could be seen lying in the lake bed in what resembled an underwater graveyard.

Photo byWendy Mills/Burst

Local legends theorize that the skeletons were that of the Seminole Tribes who were affected by famine, war, and disease. Others claim that the skeletons are that of ancient tribes dating back to the 1700s who resided on the land before the Seminole Tribes existed.

The underwater graveyard of bodies cannot be seen from the surface today, but some fishermen still claim to have pulled up skulls or bone fragments when they cast a line.

Lake Okeechobee remains one of the most haunted lakes in the country. Countless ghost sightings and unexplained phenomena have been reported around the lake each year. Particular claims that have circulated involve ancient monsters as well as spirits that lurk under the water's surface.

Do you think this Florida lake is haunted? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.