How well do you know Florida?
Florida is famous for beaches and theme parks, but it also has wild wetlands, space history and a very old city. Six questions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States. No point in the state is more than about 60 miles (97 km) from salt water.
- The Florida panther, a subspecies of cougar, is one of the most endangered mammals in the eastern US. Only about 120 to 230 adults are estimated to survive in southwest Florida.
- Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake entirely within Florida, covering about 730 square miles. Its name comes from Hitchiti words meaning 'big water', and it feeds the Everglades to the south.
Beyond the beaches
Florida is a long peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Its warm climate made it a destination for retirees and tourists, but it also contains unique ecosystems, from mangrove coasts and coral reefs to freshwater springs and the Everglades. It is one of the fastest-growing states in the country.
The Everglades
The Everglades once covered much of South Florida. Canals and development drained large areas in the 20th century, harming wildlife and water supplies. Writer Marjory Stoneman Douglas called it a 'river of grass' and campaigned to protect it, and today one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects in the world aims to restore its natural water flow.
Springs and manatees
Florida has more than 1,000 freshwater springs, many with crystal-clear water at a steady 72°F (22°C). In winter, manatees gather in warm springs and power plant outflows to stay warm. Parks such as Blue Spring State Park offer viewing platforms to see them safely.
Coral reef
The Florida Reef, along the Florida Keys, is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. It supports fish, sea turtles and coral species, and it attracts snorkelers and divers. Warmer oceans have stressed the reef, and restoration programs are replanting corals.
Space Coast
Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center have hosted launches since the 1950s, from the first American astronauts to space shuttles and today's commercial rockets. Visitors can watch launches from nearby beaches and tour exhibits featuring real rockets and spacecraft.
Hurricanes
Florida's location makes it vulnerable to hurricanes, especially from June to November. The state has strict building codes, evacuation routes and warning systems. Hurricane preparedness is part of everyday life for many Floridians.
Theme parks and tourism
Tourism is one of Florida's biggest industries. Orlando's theme parks draw tens of millions of visitors a year, making the area one of the most visited destinations in the world. Beaches, cruises from ports such as Miami and Port Canaveral, and natural attractions like the Keys and springs also bring travelers throughout the year.