Okeechobee Mudfest, Florida, United States

Through early 2008, the lake remained well below normal levels, with large portions of the lake bed exposed above the water line. During this time, portions of the lake bed, covered in organic matter, dried out and caught fire. In late August 2008, Tropical Storm Fay inundated Florida with record amounts of rain. Lake Okeechobee received almost a 4-foot increase in water level, including local run-off from the tributaries. This quick rise, mixed with largely polluted run-off from local farmlands, has killed thousands of fish.
The lake in popular culture
• Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades feature as a backdrop for the 1951 Gary Cooper film, Distant Drums.