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Florida (FL), “The Sunshine State”,
encompasses approximately 66,000 square
miles of the southeastern
United States. Florida shares its
borders with
Alabama to the west and
Georgia to the north, while the
Caribbean countries of the
Bahamas and
Cuba are nearby to the south. Florida
consists of a panhandle and a substantial
peninsula that lies between the
Atlantic Ocean, the
Gulf of Mexico and the
Straits of Florida.
Florida
was home to 15.9 million individuals at the
time of the
2000 Census. Estimates in 2006 suggest
the population now lies closer to 18 million
residents, which indicates a 13% increase
since 2000.
Tallahassee, Florida’s capital city,
accounts for more than 150,000 of that
total. With the exception of
Texas, Florida is the most populous
southern state and the fourth most populous
state in the nation. The state’s largest
cities include
Hialeah,
Hollywood,
Jacksonville,
Fort Lauderdale,
Miami,
Orlando,
Pembroke Pines,
Tallahassee,
Tampa,
St. Petersburg and
West Palm Beach, FL.
Florida
boasts a booming economy that is driven
primarily by tourism. Florida’s reputation
for beautiful beaches, family friendly
attractions, and warm weather attracts more
than 60 million visitors each year.
Disney World has four exciting theme
parks in
Orlando.
Gatorland and
Sea World, also in Orlando, are popular
destinations, as well as
Busch Gardens in
Tampa, FL and the
Kennedy Space Center at
Cape Canaveral.
Other
popular attractions in FL include the
Daytona International Speedway, the
Key West Aquarium, several beautiful
lighthouses,
South Beach in
Miami and
St. Augustine, the oldest city in
America. Natural attractions include
Everglades National Park,
Florida Caverns State Park and
Fort Desoto Park, which holds a listing
on the
National Register for Historic Places.
In addition to tourism, the banking, citrus
fruit, commercial fishing, and phosphate
mining industries also play a major role in
the healthy economy. According to the
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Florida
produced a gross state product of $550
million in 2003.
From
the East Coast barrier islands and interior
swamplands to the hills of Tallahassee,
Florida (FL) features an impressive range of
diverse landscapes. While a large portion of
Florida’s geography lies at sea level, some
cities, such as
Clearwater, FL, feature vistas that rest
between 50 and 100 feet above sea level.
Britton Hill, located in
Lakewood, has an elevation of 345 feet
and is the highest point in Florida. The
majority of the state’s climate is
humid and subtropical as a result of the
Gulf Stream’s influence. The Sunshine
State’s mild fall and winter temperatures
balance the steamy hot summertime highs that
usually top out in the mid to upper 90’s.
Summertime is also Florida’s rainy season,
where severe afternoon thunderstorms are a
common occurrence.
Hurricanes also pose a threat during the
summer months.
Florida
has a well-established
State University System. The system
features nearly 30 community colleges, 10
state colleges and myriad private and
independent higher learning facilities.
Highly regarded universities in Florida
include
Florida State University,
New College of Florida, the
University of Florida, the
University of Miami and the
University of South Florida.
Florida,
USA affords spectacular views of East
Coast sunrises and West Coast sunsets that
highlight its unparalleled beauty.
Multitudes of lively cultural communities,
colorful accents, and ethnic foods and music
reflect the state’s diverse population,
while capturing the spirit of America’s
“melting pot”.
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