The state of Florida is located on the peninsula of the same name in the southern United States. Millions of tourists come here every year to enjoy the heat, the sun and relax on the beautiful sandy beaches. Florida borders Georgia and Alabama. The shores of the peninsula are washed by the Gulf of Mexico and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The Florida landscape is characterized by subtropical forests and numerous lakes, the largest of which is Okeechobee. In the southern part of Florida, there are swampy lowlands and the Atlantic coast is lined with bays and long sandy beaches.
The first European to land his ship off the coast of Florida in 1513 was Juan Ponce de León, a Spaniard. This soldier and traveler originally went here to look for the source of eternal youth. However, with the arrival of the Spaniards, there was a long period of oppression of the original Indian population, which ended with the extermination of the original Indian tribe of the Seminols.
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Individual Spanish expeditions began to settle here and form colonies. One of the oldest colonies became Saint Augustine, which is today the oldest city in the United States. Both the English and the French were at loggerheads with the Spaniards over domination over Florida. The territory was eventually taken over by Britain, but in 1781 Florida was again occupied by Spanish troops. After numerous battles, in 1819 Spain submitted the territory of Florida to the United States, which could become the 27th state of the United States.
After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Florida saw a large influx of Cuban refugees who settled there. Today, the Hispanic population makes up 15% of Florida’s population. Throughout the 20th century, the population grew rapidly.
Florida’s economy is among the strongest in the United States, with large revenues coming mainly from tourism. Agriculture is dominated by citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans and sugar cane. We rank the production of electronics and rocket technology among the most important industries. The food, chemical, woodworking and shipbuilding industries are also important. The country is also the world’s largest producer of phosphates.
According to COUNTRYAAH, the capital of Florida is Tallahassee, where we find a number of major American universities, including the University of Florida. Tallahassee is also a major center of commerce, economy and regional airport. However, cities such as Miami and Tampa, which have become cultural centers of global importance, are much better known as tourists.
In addition to beautiful beaches like Miami Beach or Palm Beach, tourists are attracted to Florida mainly by the swampy Everglades, where you can see live crocodiles. For children, there are many attractions in the Disney World entertainment complex on an area of 27,000 acres. Many tourists also head to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center spaceport on Cape Canaveral. The state of Florida also includes a group of sought-after islands called the Florida Keys.
Big Cypress National Park
The Big Cypress Swamp National Reserve, or Great Cypress Swamp, is located in the Everglades region, which is a true natural paradise. Big Cypress is a unique landscape, which is overgrown with swamp forests and in the wild you can see many alligators and water birds. In the area, swamps alternate with dry stands, on which swamp trees grow. There are even specific species of pines on some dry islands.
There are trees up to 50 meters high, which have so-called aerial roots rising above the surface to absorb oxygen, which is lacking in stagnant waters. The flat area then slopes down to coastal waters, especially the shallow Florida Bay with predominant mangroves. Mangroves have become a refuge for large numbers of animals, such as turtles, crabs, numerous species of fish, poisonous water snakes and more. Like the Everglades, Big Cypress is a popular tourist destination, especially for nature lovers.
Biscayne National Park
Biscayne National Park is located in the very south of the Florida peninsula in the United States. The park is bordered by the bay of the same name, which has become one of the most sought-after and popular diving sites in the United States. There are coral reefs here, so snorkeling enthusiasts will also enjoy watching colorful underwater life. If you don’t mind scuba diving, you can try many other interesting sports here, such as kayaking, water skiing or scootering, or you can go on a glass-bottomed boat ride and enjoy the view of the coral reefs.
Biscayne became a national park in 1980 and its surface is about 95% water and 5% land. The park covers an area of 700 km2 and the mainland is covered with dense mangrove forests. The largest island in the national park is Elliot Key. Biscayne is sometimes referred to as the Island Paradise of Millionaires, as it is the largest concentration of the richest Americans. Biscayne is also the southernmost part of the beaches in Miami.
Canaveral National Seashore
Cape Canaveral is part of the Florida peninsula in the southern United States. It is one of the biggest attractions in the area – the Kennedy Space Center is located here and shuttles take off from there. However, it is not only a place for NASA, but there is also a unique national park, where wild alligators and about 300 species of water and birds of prey live. The park thus protects a unique and untouched nature with a unique fauna and flora. In addition, it also includes part of the sea coast.
If you want to visit the park, it’s no problem – the NASA Visitor Center can be reached by bus. From here you can walk to the park. Environmentalists were initially very concerned that the roar of the engines and the vibrations that would occur when the shuttle was launched would harm the birds and other animals in the reserve. However, according to research, this fact has no effect on their lives, they are even gradually moving closer and closer to the ramps. It is not uncommon to see an eagle’s nest on a pole, for example.
