Where is Florida?
Florida is situated at the south-east corner of the United States of America - USA. It is a section of land sticking out into the sea, and is surrounded by water on three sides, making it a peninsula. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east and south, and the Gulf of Mexico to the west.
At the southern tip of Florida is a chain of islands, or archipelago, made of sand and coral. It's called the Florida Keys.
What are the landscape and climate like in Florida?
The land in Florida is very flat and most of it lies only just above sea level.
It has a tropical and subtropical climate meaning it is very warm and humid almost all year round. Most of Florida has a wet season and a dry season.
Although it is called the ‘Sunshine State’, Florida is also at risk from hurricanes in summer and autumn.
These are very strong storms that can create lots of damage to buildings and land.
Hurricanes track westwards across the Atlantic before reaching the Caribbean and North America’s south-east coast.
When it rains in Florida, it rains heavily. The large amounts of rainfall collect in lakes, rivers, underground springs and swamps. This has created places such as the Everglades in the south - a wet marshy area where alligators, turtles and snakes live.
Watch: Florida with Sue Venir
Florida is one of 50 states that make up the USA. It sits at the south-east corner of the country along the Atlantic coast and it’s largely made up of a peninsula, which is a piece of land that sticks out into the sea. And an archipelago which is a group of islands.
I love the warm tropical and subtropical climate but I’m not so keen on the hurricanes that pass through here during hurricane season.
It’s home to a whole host of rare wildlife such as the graceful manatee, and the elusive Florida panther, the American crocodile and the Florida snapping turtle.
If you’ve had all you can take of the wildlife you can visit cities like Orlando, Jacksonville and Miami; a city that has grown from just 300 people in the 1800s to over 5 million today!
Florida has a long tradition of farming, growing crops like tomatoes and sugar cane as well as supplying most the country’s orange juice.
But these days it also makes a lot of its money from tourism with visitors coming to enjoy its sandy beaches and warm, clear waters, as well as over 20 amusement parks.
And if you’re after adventure that’s truly out of this world, there’s Cape Canaveral, where NASA launched its space shuttles as well as the Apollo 11 rocket, which took humans to the Moon!
With its colourful mix of wildlife and people, Florida has a rich and varied past. And it looks like it will play a big part in our future too!
What are Florida's main industries?
Florida’s main industries are:
- farming - tomatoes, strawberries and oranges grow here
- tourism - more than 100 million visitors each year come to its miles of beaches, amusement parks and state parks
What are the effects of hurricanes?
Hurricanes don’t just pose a risk to people and buildings; they cause a lot of economic damage. A hurricane can destroy crops, causing hardship for farmers and price increases for customers.
Hurricanes affect the tourism industry too. They disrupt travel for visitors and can stop people from going to Florida's major attractions and beaches. Hurricanes often leave homes and businesses without electricity.
What do people do in Florida when a hurricane is forecast?
Hurricane warnings help to give people time to prepare. People may be asked to stay indoors or even leave their homes altogether. People board up their windows and stock up on food and water.
Activity: Quiz – Florida
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