WHAT’S ON ROB’S RADAR. LAKE. OKEECHOBEE IN OUR AREA CAN HELP YOU PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE HOW BIG THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THAT’S THE IMPORTANT STRETCH OF WATER THAT SEPARATES IRAN ON ONE SIDE FROM COUNTRIES LIKE OMAN AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. ON THE OTHER. THE STREET HAS 2 PRIMARY SHIPPING CHANNELS THAT ARE 2 MILES WIDE WITH A 2 MILE BUFFER ZONE, WHICH MEANS TO SAY THE LEAST. THE GEOGRAPHY HERE IS REALLY, REALLY CHALLENGING. SOME PARTS OF THIS TRADE ARE RELATIVELY WIDE LIKE FROM THAT PART OF THE UAE TO IRAN AS A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 82 MILES. THAT’S JUST LESS THAN THE DISTANCE, OF COURSE, FROM KEY WEST TO CUBA. BUT OTHER PARTS OF THE STRAIT ARE WAY MORE NARROW LIKE FROM THIS STRETCH OF ON TO THAT PART OF IRAN. WELL, THAT’S A DISTANCE OF ONLY 35 MILES. AND THAT’S HOW LAKE OKEECHOBEE CAN HELP. YOU PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE. YOU CAN KEEP THE EXACT SAME DISTANCE, THE DRAW. THE LINE OVER THE LAKE WILL FROM THE NORTHERN MOST POINT OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE TO ITS SOUTHE
Lake Okeechobee offers local comparison to Strait of Hormuz width
Updated: 9:41 PM EDT Mar 13, 2026
Lake Okeechobee in our area can help put into perspective how wide parts of the Strait of Hormuz are in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is the stretch of water between Iran on one side and countries including Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the other. Given its importance to global oil supply, the strait is being closely watched around the world right now as the war in the region disrupts shipping through the area. Because of its geography, navigating the strait can be challenging even in calm geopolitical times. There are two heavily used shipping lanes in the strait, each about two miles wide. A two-mile buffer zone separates them. Though parts of the strait are only about 21 miles wide, other sections of it between Oman and Iran are around 35 miles wide. For a comparison closer to home, Lake Okeechobee can be used as a reference. The lake also stretches 35 miles wide from near its northernmost point off of Buckhead Ridge to its southernmost point near Belle Glade. Follow, like and subscribe to Gulf Coast News on social media to share your tips and be part of the conversation with Southwest Florida’s most experienced, trusted weather team.However you watch or scroll, we’re committed to delivering accurate, timely forecasts you can rely on, wherever you are.Follow on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads | Bluesky | Nextdoor | XLive Interactive RadarTrack conditions in real time with the Gulf Coast Live Radar.Watch Gulf Coast WeatherFind the latest weather forecast videos, streaming live or on demand, on TV and online.Stream on the GoDownload the free Gulf Coast News app to watch on your phone or tablet.Your Gulf Coast Storm TeamChief Meteorologist Allyson RaeMeteorologist Caroline CastoraMeteorologist Jim DickeyMeteorologist Jason DunningMeteorologist Lauren HopeMeteorologist Raphael TavernierMeteorologist Rob DunsMeteorologist Sara Blue DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest breaking news and weather alerts. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
Lake Okeechobee in our area can help put into perspective how wide parts of the Strait of Hormuz are in the Middle East.
The Strait of Hormuz is the stretch of water between Iran on one side and countries including Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the other. Given its importance to global oil supply, the strait is being closely watched around the world right now as the war in the region disrupts shipping through the area.
Because of its geography, navigating the strait can be challenging even in calm geopolitical times. There are two heavily used shipping lanes in the strait, each about two miles wide. A two-mile buffer zone separates them.
Though parts of the strait are only about 21 miles wide, other sections of it between Oman and Iran are around 35 miles wide.
For a comparison closer to home, Lake Okeechobee can be used as a reference. The lake also stretches 35 miles wide from near its northernmost point off of Buckhead Ridge to its southernmost point near Belle Glade.
Follow, like and subscribe to Gulf Coast News on social media to share your tips and be part of the conversation with Southwest Florida’s most experienced, trusted weather team.
However you watch or scroll, we’re committed to delivering accurate, timely forecasts you can rely on, wherever you are.
Follow on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads | Bluesky | Nextdoor | X
Live Interactive Radar
Watch Gulf Coast Weather
Stream on the Go
Your Gulf Coast Storm Team
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest breaking news and weather alerts. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.