Florida is the 22nd most
extensive, the 4th most populous, and the 8th most densely
populated of the 50 United States. The state capital is
Tallahassee, its largest city is Jacksonville, and the Miami
metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area in the
southeastern United States. Much of Florida is a peninsula
between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits
of Florida. Its geography is notable for a coastline, omnipresent
water and the threat of hurricanes. Florida has the longest
coastline in the contiguous United States. The climate varies
from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. Some of
its most iconic animals, such as the American alligator,
crocodile, Florida panther and the manatee, can be found in the
Everglades, one of the most famous national parks in the world.
Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish
explorer Juan Ponce de León. Florida was a challenge for the
European colonial powers before it gained statehood in the United
States in 1845. It was a principal location of the Seminole Wars
against the Indians, and racial segregation after the American
Civil War. Florida culture is a reflection of influences and
multiple inheritance; Native American, European American,
Hispanic and African American heritages can be found in the
architecture and cuisine. Florida has attracted many writers such
as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee
Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes.
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