With its dimension and distinctive location within the United States, there are fairly just a few attention-grabbing details about Florida that you could be not know! Whether 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 attention-grabbing.
To begin off, listed here are just a few normal details about Florida:
- There are a formidable 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 foul begin, proper?
So, whether or not you’re a trivia-loving particular person otherwise you wish to use these Florida details to impress associates or household, you’ll positively wish to learn by way of this listing. So, with out additional ado, listed here are seventeen enjoyable or attention-grabbing details about Florida so as to add to your information financial institution!
The 17 Most Interesting Facts about Florida
So, what sort of details are you able to anticipate from this listing? Well, anticipate all issues bizarre, enjoyable, attention-grabbing, and informative! With Florida’s numerous background and lengthy historical past (the oldest inhabited metropolis lies within the state), you may anticipate to be entertained as you study slightly extra in regards to the Sunshine State.
Ready to study in regards to the unusual and great state of Florida? Let’s dive in!
1. Florida has three state animals
All states within the US have a state hen, and most have a state animal as nicely. However, Florida has three state animals on its docket. The state hen is the Mockingbird. It additionally has a state marine mammal (Manatee) and a state saltwater mammal (Bottlenose Dolphin).
If you’re an animal lover, you may rise up shut and private with the state marine mammal through a kayaking tour. However, it’s essential to notice that Manatees are protected, so that you’ll have to observe the principles when kayaking round Manatees. For instance, you can’t harass, annoy, feed, or pursue a Manatee.
Bonus reality: Panthers are native to Florida. Specifically, there’s a Florida panther that’s indigenous to the state. Currently, 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 constantly inhabited. Many folks additionally think about St. Augustine the oldest metropolis within the US.
Recently, 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 outdated
This island, a preferred seashore vacation spot for a lot of vacationers, is roughly twenty-five thousand years outdated. And whereas there isn’t a method to decide when precisely the land mass was created, utilizing carbon relationship and soil samples has helped present an approximate date for this gorgeous Florida island.
Bonus reality: AMI has quartz seashores, that are uncommon. Instead 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 means you may stroll on the sand on scorching days and never burn your ft, as quartz sand isn’t a great warmth conductor!
With the island’s wealthy historical past and gorgeous seashores, exploring Anna Maria Island through the water is without doubt one of the finest methods to get round. Luckily, there are fairly just a few boat excursions on Anna Maria Island it’s best to completely try.
4. Florida has a nationwide park that’s 95% underwater
That’s proper, Biscayne National Park is primarily underwater. It’s one in every of eleven nationwide parks within the state and sits barely south of Miami. This nationwide park can also be house to a number of endangered species, together with the West Indian Manatee, the Eastern Indigo Snake, and even the American crocodile.
Overall, 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 National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park. All three of those main nationwide parks (Biscayne, Everglades, and Dry Tortugas) are in South Florida.
5. Florida’s stunning shoreline is the longest within the contiguous United States.
Not solely does Florida have the oldest metropolis, but it surely’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 may go to.
While lots of Florida’s seashores function stunning blue water, particular seashores are recognized for having the clearest water. You’ll discover a few of these seashores in Destin, the Florida Keys, Miami, and Jupiter.
Bonus reality: When 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 probably the most visited. Just over a million folks go to this stunning state park yearly. If you’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 constantly gained finest within the nation for the previous a number of years. The stunning seashores, wonderful mountain climbing routes, and glowing water make it simple 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 folks plan a visit to Walt Disney World yearly. That makes this amusement advanced in Orlando probably the most visited on this planet. You could also be shocked to seek out out that it was nonetheless in its strategy planning stage when Walt Disney handed away, so he might 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 probably the most visited. It’s additionally probably the most visited amusement park within the US, with round 20 million folks visiting every year.
8. Besides Hawaii, Florida is the one state with a tropical local weather
This local weather has helped produce probably the most ecologically numerous areas within the US. Florida has round 14.5 million acres of forested space. This means about half the state is roofed in timber. Another instance of the state’s ecological range is its coral reef. Florida’s coral reef is the one dwelling reef within the nation. It’s additionally the third greatest worldwide.
Because of the varied local weather, Florida has been recognized to have excessive climate occurrences. You may even see the variety in climate when trying 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
Believe it or not, Florida has an extended listing of innovations for which it will probably take credit score, together with Spring Break. The first ever Spring Break occurred within the Nineteen Thirties when a Colgate University swim coach took his group to Fort Lauderdale for coaching. It rapidly turned a pleasant competitors that occurred yearly, because the coach continued bringing his group yearly.
Some different innovations embody key lime pie, air-con, Famous Amos cookies, sunscreen, and Gatorade. Since Florida is the highest producer of oranges within the nation (Florida produces greater than 70% of oranges offered 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 an extended aviation historical past relationship again to 1910 at Orlando’s Orange County Fair. During 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 Beach.
Then, in 1914, Florida had the primary scheduled passenger airline. The aircraft held one passenger, who gained a aircraft ticket at an public sale for $400. This aircraft experience traveled between Tampa and St. Petersburg, a route created resulting from a scarcity of a connecting bridge on the time. The journey took lower than 1.5 hours and included a restore cease, the Florida breeze, and gorgeous surroundings
This state can also be house to the Kennedy Space Center, which is the bottom for area 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. Each 12 months, state residents stand in a line and throw useless fish into Alabama. Yes, actually. It’s coupled with a big occasion on the seashore and often happens across the finish of April.
Though, it’s extra than simply throwing a useless mullet throughout state traces. The Mullet Toss is a contest for Floridians to see who can throw their useless fish the furthest. Those 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 motels and flights months, if not longer, prematurely. This is a well-liked occasion, as folks from throughout journey to the world to expertise the occasion in particular person.
12. Florida has extra golf programs than another state!
You may not be shocked to seek out out that Florida has probably the most golf programs in all the United States! It’s true, there are greater than 1,300 golf programs positioned all through the state. You’ll by no means be with no golf course close by within the Sunshine State.
Want to dig even deeper? Palm Beach County, north of Miami on the area coast of the state, has extra golf programs in its county than another 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 Hall 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 displays on the sport’s historical past, heritage, and data on the gamers who’ve been inducted into the corridor of fame.
13. Florida is the flattest state within the U.S.
Most are conversant in 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 simply 100 ft.
The highest 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 regardless that, by Florida requirements, that elevation is relatively 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 1000’s of our bodies of recent and saltwater, it’s a main fishing spot. Being surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean gives fairly a playground and alternative for these trying to fish. It additionally gives fairly a little bit of range for sorts 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 can 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 Name means “Land of Flowers” in Spanish
This one may 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 world in 1513.
Ponce de Leon named Florida for its abundance of gorgeous flowers. Today, you may 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 stunning flora.
Bonus reality: The state flower of Florida is the orange blossom! This blossom symbolizes luck or prosperity. The white and yellow blossom may be present in gardens and wild areas all through central and southern Florida.
16. The Famous Apollo 11 Mission launched from Kennedy Space Center
Some may keep in mind, or some may need heard through historical past books, the favored phrase “…one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” This was a well-known quote from Neil Armstrong that he stated 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 Space Center to be extra actual. On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew took off from the Space Center in Saturn V and headed to the moon to make historical past.
Make positive so as to add visiting the Kennedy Space Center 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 unbelievable issues that NASA has achieved.
17. Florida has a Local Bigfoot Named the “Skunk Ape”
Okay, this one’s form of loopy, however Florida has the same legendary creature among the many likes of in style legends like Bigfoot. Florida’s is named the “Skunk Ape” and it’s positioned within the swamp-filled Everglades National Park, or so they are saying.
This ape-like large has lengthy been a legend since 1974, and plenty of claims of sightings of the large creature throughout South Florida. And, as its identify suggests, the large clearly doesn’t scent the very best. Someone claimed they noticed the Skunk Ape whereas strolling out within the swamp, and that it appeared like a person coated with hair throughout.
We’ll allow you to determine what you imagine of Florida’s Bigfoot, however make sure that to take a look at the statue of the notorious legend in Ochopee, Florida!
Wrap-Up: Fun and Interesting Facts About Florida
Florida is a state in contrast to another, although that’s to be anticipated when a state is teeming with alligators and unusual headlines speaking about “Florida Man.” Beautiful, thrilling, and that includes sunny days almost year-round, this state is one you shouldn’t hold off your bucket listing.
Next time you go to the state, scan by way of these attention-grabbing details about Florida and see in the event 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 might help you discover a number of the finest locations to go to or provide the expertise of a lifetime.
Happy future travels to the Sunshine State!
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Marissa runs Sunset Chasing Blonde.