Florida

Nume elevi:Florea Vladimir,

Stanciu Emil
Clasa: a IX-a MIE

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Florida is a state in the southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the west by
the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia, to the east by theAtlantic Ocean, and
to the south by the Straits of Florida. 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, the
largest city is Jacksonville, and the largest metropolitan area is the Miami metropolitan area.
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 ofhurricanes.
Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, encompassing approximately
1,350 miles (2,170 km), and is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic
Ocean. Much of the state is at or near sea level and is characterized by sedimentary soil. The
climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south.[7] Some of its most iconic
animals, such as the American alligator, crocodile, Florida panther and the manatee, can be
found in the Everglades National Park.
Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Len
who named it La Florida ([la floia] "Flowery Land") upon landing there during the Easter
season, Pascua Florida[8] 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 theSeminole
Wars against the Indians, and racial segregation after the American Civil War. Today, it is
distinguished by its large Hispanic community and high population growth, as well as its
increasing environmental concerns. Its economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture,
and transportation, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also known for
itsamusement parks, the production of oranges, and the Kennedy Space Center.
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. It is
internationally known for golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports.

History
Archaeological research indicates that Florida was first inhabited by Paleo-Indians, the first
human inhabitants of the Americas, perhaps as early as 14 thousand years ago. The region was
continuously inhabited through the Archaic period (to about 2000 BC). After about 500 BC the
previously relatively uniform Archaic culture began to coalesce into distinctive local cultures. [9]

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By the 16th century, the earliest time for which there is a historical record, major Native American
groups included the Apalachee (of the Florida Panhandle), the Timucua (of northern and central
Florida), the Ais (of the central Atlantic coast), the Tocobaga (of the Tampa Bay area),
the Calusa (of southwest Florida) and the Tequesta (of the southeastern coast).

Geography

Much of the state of Florida is situated on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic
Ocean and the Straits of Florida. Spanning two time zones, it extends to the northwest into
apanhandle, extending along the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the north by the
states of Georgia and Alabama, and on the west, at the end of the panhandle, by Alabama. It is
near several Caribbean countries, particularly The Bahamas and Cuba. Florida is one of the
largest states east of the Mississippi River, and only Alaska and Michigan are larger in water
area.
At 345 feet (105 m) above mean sea level, Britton Hill is the highest point in Florida and the
lowest highpoint of any U.S. state.[27] Much of the state south of Orlando is low-lying and fairly
level; much of Florida has an elevation of less than 12 feet, including many populated areas such
as Miami which are located on the coast. Miami and other parts of south Florida are the most
vulnerable regions in the world to rising sea levels associated with global warming.[28]
However some places such as Clearwater feature vistas that rise 50 to 100 ft (15 to 30 m) above
the water. Much of Central and North Florida, typically 25 mi (40 km) or more away from the
coastline, features rolling hills with elevations ranging from 100 to 250 ft (30 to 76 m). The

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highest point in peninsular Florida (east and south of the Suwanee River), Sugarloaf Mountain, is
a 312-foot (95 m) peak in Lake County.[29]

Boundaries
The state line begins in the Atlantic Ocean, traveling west, south, and north up the thalweg of
the Saint Mary's River. At the origin of that river, it then follows a straight line nearly due west and
slightly north, to the point where the confluence of the Flint River (from Georgia) and
the Chattahoochee River (down the Alabama/Georgia line) used to form Florida's Apalachicola
River. (Since Woodruff Dam was built, this point has been under Lake Seminole.)
The border with Georgia continues north through the lake for a short distance up the former
thalweg of the Chattahoochee, then with Alabama runs due west along latitude 31N to
the Perdido River, then south along its thalweg to the Gulf via Perdido Bay. The water boundary
is 3 nautical miles (3.5 mi; 5.6 km) offshore in the Atlantic Ocean[30] and 9 nautical miles (10 mi;
17 km) offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.[30] Much of the state is at or near sea level.

Climate
The climate of Florida is tempered somewhat by the fact that no part of the state is very distant
from the ocean. North of Lake Okeechobee, the prevalent climate is humid
subtropical (Kppen: Cfa), while coastal areas south of the lake (including the Florida Keys) have
a true tropical climate(Kppen: Aw).[31] Mean high temperatures for late July are primarily in the
low 90s Fahrenheit (3234 C). Mean low temperatures for early to mid January range from the
low 40s Fahrenheit (47 C) in northern Florida to above 60 F (16 C) from Miami on southward.
With an average daily temperature of 70.7 F (21.5 C), it is the warmest state in the country.[32]
In the summer, high temperatures in the state seldom exceed 100 F (38 C). Several record
cold maxima have been in the 30s F (1 to 4 C) and record lows have been in the 10s (12 to
7 C). These temperatures normally extend at most a few days at a time in the northern and
central parts of Florida. Southern Florida, however, rarely encounters freezing temperatures.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109 F (43 C), which was set on June 29,
1931 in Monticello. The coldest temperature was 2 F (19 C), on February 13, 1899, just 25
miles (40 km) away, in Tallahassee.
Due to its subtropical climate, Florida rarely receives snow. However, on very rare occasions, a
combination of cold moisture and freezing temperatures can result in snowfall. Frost is more
common than snow, occurring several times during the winter months.
The USDA Plant hardiness zones for the state range from zone 8a (no colder than 10 F or
12 C) in the inland western panhandle to zone 11b (no colder than 45 F or 7 C) in the
lowerFlorida Keys.[33]

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Fauna
Florida is host to many types of wildlife including:

Marine Mammals: Bottlenose Dolphin, Short-finned Pilot Whale, North Atlantic Right
Whale, West Indian Manatee

Mammals: Florida panther, Northern River Otter, Mink, Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, Marsh
Rabbit, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, Squirrel, White-tailed deer, Key Deer, Bobcats, Gray
Fox,Coyote, Wild Boar, Florida Black Bear, Nine-banded Armadillos, Virginia Opossum

Reptiles: Eastern Diamondback and Pygmy Rattlesnakes, Gopher

Tortoise, Green and Leatherback Sea Turtles, and Eastern Indigo Snake. In 2012, there were
about one millionAmerican Alligators and 1,500 Crocodiles.[50]

Birds: peregrine falcon,[51] Bald Eagle, Northern Caracara, Snail

Kite, Osprey, White and Brown Pelicans, Sea Gulls, Whooping and Sandhill
Cranes, Roseate Spoonbill, Florida Scrub Jay (state endemic), and others. One subspecies
of Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, namely subspecies osceola, is found only in the state of
Florida.[52] The state is a wintering location for many species of eastern North American birds.

As a result of climate change, there have been small numbers of several new
species normally native to cooler areas to the north: snowy owls, snow
buntings, Harlequin ducks, and razorbills. These have been seen in the northern part of
the state.[53]
Invertebrates: carpenter ants, termites, American cockroach, Africanized bees, the Miami

blue butterfly, and the grizzled mantis.

The only known calving area for the Northern Right Whale is off the coasts of Florida and
Georgia.[54]
The native bear population has risen from a historic low of 300 in the 1970s, to 3,000 in 2011. [55]
Since their accidental importation from South America into North America in the 1930s, the Red
imported fire ant population has increased its territorial range to include most of the Southern

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United States, including Florida. They are more aggressive than most native ant species and
have a painful sting.[56]
A number of non-native snakes and lizards have been released in the wild. In 2010 the state
created a hunting season for Burmese and Indian pythons, African rock pythons, green
anacondas, and Nile monitor lizards.[57] Green iguanas have also established a firm population in
the southern part of the state.
There are about 500,000 feral pigs in Florida.[58]

Flora
There are about 3,000 different types of wildflowers in Florida. This is the third most diverse state
in the union, behind California and Texas, both larger states.[59]
On the east coast of the state, mangroves have normally dominated the coast from Cocoa
Beach southward; salt marshes from St. Augustine northward. From St. Augustine south to
Cocoa Beach, the coast fluctuates between the two, depending on the annual weather
conditions.[53]

Racial makeup
According to the 2010 United States Census, Florida had a population of 18,801,310. In terms of
race and ethnicity, the state was:

75.0% White American (57.9% Non-Hispanic White, 17.1% White Hispanic)

16.0% Black or African American

0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native

2.4% Asian American

0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

3.6% from Some Other Race

2.5% Multiracial American

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Top 10 Non-English Languages Spoken in Florida

Language

Percentage of population
(as of 2010)

Spanish

19.54%

French Creole

1.84%

French

0.60%

Portuguese

0.50%

German

0.42%

Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Italian (tied)

0.31%

Arabic

0.22%

Chinese

0.20%

Russian

0.18%

Polish

0.14%

[113]

Law enforcement
Florida was ranked the fifth most dangerous state in 2009. Ranking was based on the record of
serious felonies committed in 2008.[145] The state was the sixth highest scammed state in 2010. It
ranked first in mortgage fraud in 2009.[146]

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In 2009, 44% of highway fatalities involved alcohol. [147] Florida is one of seven states that prohibit
the open carry of handguns. This law was passed in 1987.[148]
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Florida has the highest per capita rate of both
reported fraud and other types of complaints and reported including identity theft complaints. [149]

Architecture
While many houses and commercial buildings look similar to those elsewhere in the country, the
state has appropriated some unique styles in some section of the state including Spanish
revival, Florida vernacular, andMediterranean Revival Style.[154][155] It also has the largest
collection of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne buildings in both the United States and the entire
world, most of which are located in the Miami metropolitan area, especially Miami Beach's Art
Deco District.[156] Another unique architectural design found only in Florida is the Miami Modern,
which can be seen along places such as Miami's MiMo Historic District.

Energy
Florida ranked 42nd out of 50 states in total energy consumption per capita in 2010, despite the
heavy reliance on commercial and residential air conditioning. This includes coal, natural gas,
petroleum, and retail electricity sales.

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