Three Kosciusko County Lakes earn top ranking

Kosciusko County — Travel blog The Crazy Tourist, ranked the top 15 lakes in Indiana. Kosciusko County had three lakes on the list. Tippecanoe Lake was ranked number one, Lake Wawasee was ranked number three and Barbee lake was ranked number eight.Here are the reasons why each lake deserved the ranking, according to the blog post.Tippecanoe LakeThis large glacial lake is located in north-central Indiana, just over three kilometers west of the town of North Webster. It is the deepest natural lake in the state, having a depth of 37 meters, making it an extremely popular recreational spot.Boating, fishing and water skiing are popular things to do at Tippecanoe Lake. In addition to having three marinas, the lake’s shoreline also features a country club, a golf course, a resort and mineral springs. It is also surrounded by expensive residential properties.There are a number of public access points to the lake that have boat ramps, as well as a couple of private ones. Restaurants, bars and boat service centres are also found around the lake, as is a beach that offers swimming.Lake WawaseeLake Wawasee is Indiana’s largest natural lake, having a surface area of 12 square kilometers and an average depth of 6.7 meters. The lake sits southeast of the town of Syracuse and was previously named Turkey Lake, as it is in Turkey Creek Township.The lake has a long history, dating back to the Pleistocene epoch. Today it is a known summer vacation area, particularly amongst residents from Indianapolis and Chicago.There are numerous beaches, marinas, resorts and residences along the lake’s shoreline, as well as restaurants and a yacht club. On July 4th, Lake Wawasee hosts an incredible fireworks display.Barbee LakeThis freshwater lake is composed of seven interconnecting lakes in Indiana’s Kosciusko County. Barbee Lake was formed by melting glaciers during the Pleistocene era.There are over 2,000 residences spread around the 346 hectare lake, most of which sit around the north end of it. There are also a number of marinas sitting around the lake.Barbee Lake is a popular fishing spot, with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources running a public boat ramp for fishermen. The lake is home to bluegill, yellow perch, largemouth bass, muskellunge, crappie and catfish.