With its dimension and distinctive location in america, there are fairly a couple of fascinating information about Florida that you could be not know! Whether or not you’re a frequent Florida traveler or have but to go to the Sunshine State, you’ll discover the contents of this listing both exceptionally humorous or simply flat-out fascinating.
To begin off, listed below are a couple of common information about Florida:
- There are a powerful 4,500+ islands within the state
- It’s the one state which borders the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean
- It holds the biggest metropolis within the continental United States (Jacksonville)
Not a nasty begin, proper?
So, whether or not you’re a trivia-loving particular person otherwise you need to use these Florida information to impress buddies or household, you’ll undoubtedly need to learn by this listing. So, with out additional ado, listed below are seventeen enjoyable or fascinating information about Florida so as to add to your data financial institution!
The 17 Most Fascinating Details about Florida
So, what sort of information are you able to anticipate from this listing? Properly, anticipate all issues bizarre, enjoyable, fascinating, and informative! With Florida’s numerous background and lengthy historical past (the oldest inhabited metropolis lies within the state), you possibly can anticipate to be entertained as you study a bit of extra in regards to the Sunshine State.
Able to study in regards to the unusual and fantastic state of Florida? Let’s dive in!
1. Florida has three state animals
All states within the US have a state fowl, and most have a state animal as properly. Nevertheless, Florida has three state animals on its docket. The state fowl is the Mockingbird. It additionally has a state marine mammal (Manatee) and a state saltwater mammal (Bottlenose Dolphin).
For those who’re an animal lover, you possibly can rise up shut and private with the state marine mammal by way of a kayaking tour. Nevertheless, it’s vital to notice that Manatees are protected, so that you’ll have to observe the foundations when kayaking round Manatees. For instance, you can not harass, annoy, feed, or pursue a Manatee.
Bonus truth: Panthers are native to Florida. Particularly, there’s a Florida panther that’s indigenous to the state. At present, there are an estimated 120-230 panthers that reside in Florida.
2. St. Augustine, FL, is the oldest metropolis within the US
This Florida metropolis was based in 1565 by a Spanish Settler, making it the oldest European-founded settlement in US historical past that has been repeatedly inhabited. Many individuals additionally contemplate St. Augustine the oldest metropolis within the US.
Not too long ago, there has even been hypothesis on whether or not the primary model of Thanksgiving was held on this metropolis about half a century earlier than the pilgrims started the custom.
3. Anna Maria Island is round 25,000 years previous
This island, a well-liked seaside vacation spot for a lot of vacationers, is roughly twenty-five thousand years previous. And whereas there isn’t a technique to decide when precisely the land mass was created, utilizing carbon courting and soil samples has helped present an approximate date for this beautiful Florida island.
Bonus truth: AMI has quartz seashores, that are uncommon. As a substitute of seashell bits turning into the white sand discovered on the seashores, quartz rocks from the Appalachian Mountains erode and wash out to sea. This implies you possibly can stroll on the sand on sizzling days and never burn your ft, as quartz sand will not be warmth conductor!
With the island’s wealthy historical past and beautiful seashores, exploring Anna Maria Island by way of the water is among the finest methods to get round. Fortunately, there are fairly a couple of boat excursions on Anna Maria Island you need to completely take a look at.
4. Florida has a nationwide park that’s 95% underwater
That’s proper, Biscayne Nationwide Park is primarily underwater. It’s considered one of eleven nationwide parks within the state and sits barely south of Miami. This nationwide park can be house to a number of endangered species, together with the West Indian Manatee, the Jap Indigo Snake, and even the American crocodile.
General, Florida is roofed in about 7% protected land, break up between its nationwide and state parks.
There are ten different nationwide parks in Florida, together with the Everglades Nationwide Park and Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park. All three of those main nationwide parks (Biscayne, Everglades, and Dry Tortugas) are in South Florida.
5. Florida’s lovely shoreline is the longest within the contiguous United States.
Not solely does Florida have the oldest metropolis, however it’s additionally house to the longest shoreline within the decrease 48 states. The coast stretches about 1,350 miles, with 825 miles containing seashores you possibly can go to.
Whereas a lot of Florida’s seashores characteristic lovely blue water, particular seashores are identified for having the clearest water. You’ll discover a few of these seashores in Destin, the Florida Keys, Miami, and Jupiter.
Bonus truth: If you go to Florida, you may be, at most, 60 miles away from a physique of water in any given place.
6. The Peninsula State has 175 State Parks.
Out of this spectacular variety of state parks, Honeymoon Island State Park is essentially the most visited. Simply over a million individuals go to this lovely state park yearly. For those who’re planning on together with it as a cease in your itinerary, keep away from stopping right here on the weekends, because it’s the busiest on Saturdays and Sundays.
As a aspect observe, Florida’s state parks have repeatedly gained finest within the nation for the previous a number of years. The attractive seashores, glorious mountaineering routes, and glowing water make it straightforward to see why the state parks proceed profitable this title.
7. Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resort is the top-visited resort advanced worldwide.
About 58 million individuals plan a visit to Walt Disney World yearly. That makes this amusement advanced in Orlando essentially the most visited on the earth. It’s possible you’ll be shocked to seek out out that it was nonetheless in its strategy planning stage when Walt Disney handed away, so he may by no means see the completed park.
The advanced has 4 parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Epcot. Out of those 4, Magic Kingdom is essentially the most visited. It’s additionally essentially the most visited amusement park within the US, with round 20 million individuals visiting annually.
8. In addition to Hawaii, Florida is the one state with a tropical local weather
This local weather has helped produce one of the ecologically numerous areas within the US. Florida has round 14.5 million acres of forested space. This implies about half the state is roofed in timber. One other instance of the state’s ecological variety is its coral reef. Florida’s coral reef is the one dwelling reef within the nation. It’s additionally the third largest worldwide.
Due to the varied local weather, Florida has been identified to have excessive climate occurrences. You’ll be able to even see the variety in climate when wanting on the state’s highest and lowest recorded temperatures. The state’s warmest was 109°F, and the coldest was -2°F. These temperatures have been recorded about 32 years other than one another.
9. Florida has been the birthplace of many innovations
Consider it or not, Florida has a protracted listing of innovations for which it will possibly take credit score, together with Spring Break. The primary ever Spring Break occurred within the Nineteen Thirties when a Colgate College swim coach took his workforce to Fort Lauderdale for coaching. It shortly grew to become a pleasant competitors that occurred yearly, because the coach continued bringing his workforce yearly.
Another innovations embrace key lime pie, air-con, Well-known Amos cookies, sunscreen, and Gatorade. Since Florida is the highest producer of oranges within the nation (Florida produces greater than 70% of oranges bought within the US), it must be no shock that Florida is credited with many orange-related innovations, like concentrated orange juice.
10. The Sunshine State has a number of aerospace benchmarks
Florida has a protracted aviation historical past courting again to 1910 at Orlando’s Orange County Honest. Throughout this honest, the primary Florida-powered flight occurred. Lincoln Beachey competed on this competitors and will keep within the air for 5 minutes, incomes him a $1,500 prize. In 1912, the primary flight college in Florida opened in Miami Seaside.
Then, in 1914, Florida had the primary scheduled passenger airline. The airplane held one passenger, who gained a airplane ticket at an public sale for $400. This airplane experience traveled between Tampa and St. Petersburg, a route created as a result of an absence of a connecting bridge on the time. The journey took lower than 1.5 hours and included a restore cease, the Florida breeze, and beautiful surroundings
This state can be house to the Kennedy House Heart, which is the bottom for house shuttle landings and launches. It’s the place Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin launched from earlier than touchdown on the moon, making one other first for the aerospace world.
11. There’s an annual Mullet Toss for Floridians
No, not that form of mullet. This occasion refers back to the mullet fish. Every year, state residents stand in a line and throw lifeless fish into Alabama. Sure, actually. It’s coupled with a big occasion on the seaside and normally happens across the finish of April.
Although, it’s extra than simply throwing a lifeless mullet throughout state traces. The Mullet Toss is a contest for Floridians to see who can throw their lifeless fish the furthest. These taking part within the occasion will stand in a 10-foot circle to make their throw. Some good comes out of this occasion, as proceeds go to native charities.
If you wish to take part on this occasion, anticipate to e-book your lodges and flights months, if not longer, upfront. This can be a in style occasion, as individuals from throughout journey to the realm to expertise the occasion in particular person.
12. Florida has extra golf programs than every other state!
You won’t be shocked to seek out out that Florida has essentially the most golf programs in your complete United States! It’s true, there are greater than 1,300 golf programs positioned all through the state. You’ll by no means be and not using a golf course close by within the Sunshine State.
Need to dig even deeper? Palm Seaside County, north of Miami on the house coast of the state, has extra golf programs in its county than every other county within the nation. In whole, there are round 160 programs. That’s lots of golf programs!
St. Augustine is even house to the World Golf Corridor of Fame and Museum which honors each women and men golfers and their accomplishments within the sport. The museum additionally showcases golf memorabilia, together with golf equipment and balls from completely different eras, in addition to interactive reveals on the sport’s historical past, heritage, and knowledge on the gamers who’ve been inducted into the corridor of fame.
13. Florida is the flattest state within the U.S.
Most are accustomed to how flat Florida appears to be, however do you know that Florida occurs to be the flattest state within the US? It’s true. The common elevation in Florida is just 100 ft.
The best pure level within the state is 345 ft. above sea stage, and that’s positioned in Britton Hill which is in North Florida. This spot is near the Atlanta/Florida border and is taken into account the bottom excessive level out of any state within the nation. So although, by Florida requirements, that elevation is quite excessive, it’s barely something when in comparison with different states.
14. Florida is the “Fishing Capital of the World”
It’s true! Florida has been labeled the “Fishing Capital of the World” and rightfully so. With hundreds of our bodies of recent and saltwater, it’s a first-rate fishing spot. Being surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean offers fairly a playground and alternative for these trying to fish. It additionally offers fairly a little bit of variety for varieties of fish and what you’ll catch.
Florida additionally has an countless quantity of locations for freshwater fishing – with over 7,500 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs to select from and 12,000 miles of rivers, streams, and canals which might be fishing-worthy.
Blessed with everlasting sunshine and pleasantly reasonable climate all 12 months, Florida is the right place to fish in any season!
15. Florida’s Identify means “Land of Flowers” in Spanish
This one would possibly come as a shock, however Florida’s identify comes from the Spanish time period “La Florida,” which interprets to imply “land of flowers.” The identify was chosen by the explorer Ponce de Leon, who was the primary European to discover the realm in 1513.
Ponce de Leon named Florida for its abundance of gorgeous flowers. At the moment, you possibly can nonetheless discover an abundance of colourful blooms in Florida! So, subsequent time you’re visiting the Sunshine State, you should definitely take a second to understand all of its lovely flora.
Bonus truth: The state flower of Florida is the orange blossom! This blossom symbolizes luck or prosperity. The white and yellow blossom could be present in gardens and wild areas all through central and southern Florida.
16. The Well-known Apollo 11 Mission launched from Kennedy House Heart
Some would possibly keep in mind, or some might need heard by way of historical past books, the favored phrase “…one small step for a person, one big leap for mankind.” This was a well-known quote from Neil Armstrong that he mentioned as he took his first step on the moon, and step one of any man on the moon.
And guess the place the well-known Apollo 11 Mission launched from? Florida! The Kennedy House Heart to be extra actual. On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew took off from the House Heart in Saturn V and headed to the moon to make historical past.
Be certain so as to add visiting the Kennedy House Heart in Merritt Island, Florida to your itinerary! It’s the right place to study extra in regards to the Apollo 11 mission and uncover all the opposite unimaginable issues that NASA has completed.
17. Florida has a Native Bigfoot Named the “Skunk Ape”
Okay, this one’s form of loopy, however Florida has an identical legendary creature among the many likes of in style legends like Bigfoot. Florida’s is called the “Skunk Ape” and it’s positioned within the swamp-filled Everglades Nationwide Park, or so they are saying.
This ape-like big has lengthy been a legend since 1974, and lots of claims of sightings of the large creature throughout South Florida. And, as its identify suggests, the large clearly doesn’t odor the most effective. Somebody claimed they noticed the Skunk Ape whereas strolling out within the swamp, and that it seemed like a person coated with hair throughout.
We’ll allow you to determine what you consider of Florida’s Bigfoot, however ensure that to take a look at the statue of the notorious legend in Ochopee, Florida!
Wrap-Up: Enjoyable and Fascinating Details About Florida
Florida is a state not like every other, although that’s to be anticipated when a state is teeming with alligators and unusual headlines speaking about “Florida Man.” Lovely, thrilling, and that includes sunny days almost year-round, this state is one you shouldn’t maintain off your bucket listing.
Subsequent time you go to the state, scan by these fascinating information about Florida and see in case you can schedule one or two into your journey itinerary one way or the other (like visiting St. Augustine or attending the Mullet Toss). It will possibly provide help to discover among the finest locations to go to or provide the expertise of a lifetime.
Comfortable future travels to the Sunshine State!
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Marissa runs Sundown Chasing Blonde.