Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A specific, named inland water route in the state of Florida, USA. It is a navigable channel that connects the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast to the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast by traversing Lake Okeechobee and linking a series of rivers and canals.

Usage

• The term Okeechobee Waterway is used as a singular, proper noun to refer to the entire route as a single entity. It is often discussed in contexts of navigation, boating, tourism, and regional geography.
• Example: "To avoid the long trip around the Florida Keys, many boaters take the Okeechobee Waterway."

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Okeechobee Waterway provides a crucial shortcut for commercial and recreational vessels crossing Florida.
  • Completing a transit of the Okeechobee Waterway is a popular goal for many sailors.
  • Water levels in Lake Okeechobee directly affect the navigability of the Okeechobee Waterway.

Advanced Usage

• The waterway is sometimes informally called "The Okeechobee Cross-State Route" or simply "The Ditch" by boaters.
• It is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is officially designated as part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway systems.

Variants and Related Words

• Okeechobee, Lake Okeechobee (n): The large freshwater lake at the center of the waterway route.
• Caloosahatchee River (n): The river on the western leg of the waterway, connecting Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico.
• St. Lucie Canal (n): The primary canal on the eastern leg, connecting Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic Ocean.
• Cross-Florida Waterway: A more general descriptive term for which the Okeechobee Waterway is the primary example.

Synonyms

• Okeechobee Cross-State Canal (less common)
• Lake Okeechobee Route

Related Phrases / Terminology

• Transit the Waterway: To make a complete journey through the Okeechobee Waterway.
  • Example: "We plan to transit the waterway next spring."
• Okeechobee Waterway Guide: A specific type of nautical publication or chartbook detailing the route.

Noun

1. a waterway used by small boats to travel between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico through Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee_Canal and the Caloosahatchee River