Lake County is a county located to the west of Orlando, and has a population in excess of 300,000. Its county seat is Tavares. Lake County was created in 1887 from portions of Sumter County, and Orange County. It was named for the numerous lakes in the area. There are approximately 1,400 named lakes. Lake County is also the home of Sugarloaf Mountain, the highest point in peninsular Florida, at 312 feet above sea level. Lake County has, in fact, the highest terrian for the Pennisula with an average height of 184 ft. above sea level.
Bordered on the north by the Ocala National Forest, which covers 383,573 acres, Lake County covers 1,156 sq. mi., 203 of which are lakes. The Harris Chain of Lakes cover 76,000 acres and connect to the Atlantic Ocean through the Ocklawaha River.Temperatures in Lake County are cooler than the coastal areas or So. Florida, with an average temperature in January of 59.7 degrees and 82.4 degrees in August. Lake County's rainy season is from June Through October, with an average rainfall of 47.57 inches.