Florida Summary

photo by Tasha77

No state has more nicknames than Florida—”The Sunshine State,” “The Peninsula State,” “The Everglade State,” and “The Orange State.” Florida, the southeasternmost state, is primarily a large, low-lying peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Circling the southern tip from Biscayne Bay out to the Dry Tor tugas is a string of islands, or keys, as they are known. Cape Sable is the southernmost point on the mainland United States, and Key West is the southernmost city in the nation. The northwest part of Florida, bordering Alabama and Georgia, is known as the Panhandle.

Florida has the longest marine coastline of all states after Alaska, and an extremely inviting climate, which is one of its most valuable assets. Most of Florida is humid and subtropical, and the southern tip of the peninsula is tropical.

Much of the state is protected wilderness, both on land and in the surrounding waters. The Everglades National Park is one of the United States’ largest national parks, and there are dozens of others in the state, including undersea preserves. Florida has a rich and colorful history; it has passed from the hands of its original Native American inhabitants into those of the Spanish, French, British, and Americans. Historic forts, districts, and sites, such as Juan Ponce de Le\363n’s Fountain of Youth, are popular tourist attractions.

Tallahasee is the state capital and the nearby cities of Pensacola and St Augustine are of historic and cultural interest — St Augustine is the oldest city in the United States. Jacksonville is Florida’s city with the largest population but many millions visit Orlando each year, most notably for Walt Disney World. Theme and amusement parks are as common as wilderness preserves in this part of Florida. From alligators in the swamps to the rockets soaring through space, Florida is truly one of the most unique places in the world.