Physical Characteristics of Florida Land
- Coastal Plains Florida's coastal plains stretch inland from the ocean on the state's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. ...
- Uplands The uplands are the hilly areas of northern Florida, as well as the raised spine that runs down the center of the state, which is the site of most of the state's citrus production. ...
- Everglades ...
- The Florida Keys ...
What are the characteristics of Florida?
The state's 1,200 miles of coastline, including estuaries, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, and coral reefs, together with thousands of inland freshwater lakes, rivers, streams and springs, support numerous aquatic communities. Florida's current and historic coastlines also influence its geology.
What type of landform does Florida have?
GEOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS Florida is a peninsula—that means it's almost completely surrounded by water.
What are the 3 regions of Florida?
Geographic Regions of FloridaThe Panhandle. The Panhandle name refers to the northwestern region of Florida. ... Northeast Florida. Northeast Florida has a location described by its region title. ... Central Florida.
How many land regions are in Florida?
The FCMaP approach divides Florida into 6 regions that are geologically and physiographically distinct in terms of coastal characteristic (e.g. dominant type of shoreline, width of continental shelf, composition and structure of seabed), have variable stakeholder-driven needs, and will develop separate prioritization ...
Is Florida a peninsula?
As mentioned above, the State of Florida is situated on a peninsula, which consists of karst limestone sitting atop a bedrock known as the Florida Platform. The peninsula is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico in the west, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and by the Straits of Florida in the south.
What is the physical geography of Florida?
Most of Florida's land area is built on a large peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Because Florida is surrounded by water, much of it is low-lying and flat. Its highest point, Britton Hill, is only 345 feet (105 m) above sea level. This makes it the lowest high point of any U.S. state.
Are there plains in Florida?
The Atlantic Coastal Plain The plain runs northward along the state's Gulf coast to Apalachicola, where it's bounded by the East Gulf Coastal Plain.
Who is a famous person in Florida?
Film and televisionNameNotabilityConnection to FloridaCatherine Keener (1960–)ActressBorn in MiamiDavid Labrava (1962–)Writer and actorBorn in MiamiJennifer Lopez (1969–)Singer and actressLived in MiamiBeth Littleford (1968–)Film and television actressGrew up in Winter Park99 more rows
What are the regions of Florida?
Depending on whom you ask, Florida’s regions may range from "spring break," based in Daytona, to the “senior zones” centered around Tampa on the state’s west coast and in the Boca Raton area, near Miami. If asking a geologist or oceanographer, Florida has three general geographic regions, all based on coastal plains that include a hilly, upland area with a dizzying height of 345 feet. The largest of these coastal plains begins its southward sweep in New York and ends in the uninhabited western extension of the Florida Keys.
How tall is Florida?
If asking a geologist or oceanographer, Florida has three general geographic regions, all based on coastal plains that include a hilly, upland area with a dizzying height of 345 feet. The largest of these coastal plains begins its southward sweep in New York and ends in the uninhabited western extension of the Florida Keys.
What is the name of the river of grass in the Everglades?
The Atlantic Coastal Plain lacks the hilly upland areas that characterize the South Atlantic Coastal Plain, but it includes the beaches found on both coasts of the peninsula and the Everglades, the so-called "river of grass" that constitutes much of the southern tip of the state. Embark on a boat tour of the Everglades to spot many local species of plant and animal, including alligators.
Where is the South Atlantic coast?
The South Atlantic Coast al plain includes northeastern Florida's coast. It extends from Florida's northern border on the Atlantic seaboard, southward about 150 miles to the area around Cape Canaveral, where America's space program first took flight. It then turns and runs northwesterly and inland toward the New York-Alabama Lineament, ...
Is Tallahassee a coastal city?
Although Tallahassee , Florida's state capital, is not a coastal town, it still holds interest for Florida visitors. With a landscape of rolling hills and live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, the city is very different from the flat coastal landscape. Tallahassee is home to two colleges, Florida A&M and Florida State University. The tallest building in Tallahassee is the State Capitol, which was built in the 1970s. The original capitol building, built in 1845, stands in the center of the Florida Capitol complex and houses the Florida Historic Capitol Museum (flhistoriccapitol.gov) with exhibits of the history of government in Florida. The original Florida Governor's Mansion (floridagovernorsmansion.com), built in 1907, was torn down in 1955 when it was found to be structurally unsound. The current mansion, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is open to the public year-round for free tours.
Where to see Florida landforms?
The best way to get a feel for Florida's geography and landforms is to visit one of the state's many parks and natural areas. Of course, the Everglades is at the top of this list, along with nearby Big Cypress and the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
How many state parks are there in Florida?
Though there are over 170 state parks in Florida, there are a few that stand out: namely, Bahia Honda State Park, Big Lagoon State Park, Sebastian Inlet State Park and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. John Pennekamp is an extraordinary system of protected undersea coral; Sebastian Inlet is situated on a barrier island north of Vero Beach ...
What are the best places to visit in the Everglades National Park?
Finally, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary protects over 10,000 acres of wetlands and old-growth bald-cypress swamp, and it's an amazing sight. For birdwatchers and flower fans, especially, this wild stretch of wetlands is worth a visit: Corkscrew Swamp is run by the National Audubon Society, and it's also one of the only places in the country where you can see a blooming ghost orchid.
What are the four main regions of the Sunshine State?
These are the upland (hilly area), the Everglades (swamp and wetland), the Florida Keys (an archipelago of over 1,500 islands) ...
What to pack for the Everglades?
Pack a bottle of deep woods mosquito repellent and plenty of water. The canoeing areas around Marco Island are thick with biting insects, and canoeing in the sweltering climate is thirsty work. The National Park Service recommends both of these steps for Everglades National Park, and that recommendation is equally valid for all canoeing areas in South Florida.
Is Florida a good place to visit?
For Florida-bound travelers keen on exploring the state's main landforms, visits to national and state parks are a must.
Is Marco Island in the Everglades National Forest?
As South Florida beach destinations go, Marco Island has a singular advantage in that it within 20 miles of five state and national parks, forests and preserves, including Everglades National Forest. That vast, collective enclosure of wetlands translates into canoeing, and touring the natural beauty of Florida's swamps, backwaters and mangroves makes for a marvelous day trip when Marco Island's beaches begin to seem just a little old.
What are the three main areas of Florida?
Most of Florida is low-lying plains. The northwestern regions are higher in elevation than the rest of the state. The landscape of Florida comprises four geographical land areas: 1 the Atlantic Coastal Plain, 2 the East Gulf Coastal Plain 3 South Atlantic Coastal Plain 4 and the Florida Uplands.
What is the landscape of the Florida Uplands?
The landscape in the southern Florida Uplands is characterized by low hills and many lakes.
What are the uplands?
Uplands are dominated by pine, originally longleaf and slash in the south and shortleaf mixed with hardwoods in the north. These are fire-maintained systems that give way to loblolly pine and hardwoods in damper areas and bottomland hardwood forest in extensive lowland drainages.
How high above sea level are the Florida Uplands?
Though the Florida Uplands are only 200-300 feet above sea level, they are still higher than the regions of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the East Gulf Coastal Plain. The highest point in Florida is found in the Florida Uplands that run along the northern edge of the panhandle.
What are the major rivers in Florida?
Major rivers include the St. Johns, the St. Mary's and the Suwannee River, and major lakes are Lake Okeechobee and Lake George. Florida is made up of four geographic land areas: The Atlantic Coastal Plain, which stretches from Cape Cod, Massachusetts south and around the Florida Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico.
What is the eastern Gulf of Mexico?
Its southern boundary is the Gulf of Mexico and its western boundary the drop into the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
What is the Atlantic coast plain?
The Atlantic Coastal Plain. This Plain stretches from Cape Cod, Massachusetts south and around the Florida Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico. A part of the Atlantic Plain, the Atlantic Coastal Plain completely covers the entire eastern part of Florida. The landscape is low and level and varies from about 30 to 90 miles wide.
What are the physical features of Florida?
Physical Characteristics of Florida Land. The Florida peninsula is made of up four main land regions: the coastal plains, the uplands, the Everglades and the Florida Keys. Found across these regions are a variety of water features, including marshes, springs, swamps, lakes, rivers and ponds.
What are the uplands in Florida?
The uplands are the hilly areas of northern Florida, as well as the raised spine that runs down the center of the state, which is the site of most of the state's citrus production. Florida's highest elevations are in the Panhandle, with Britton Hill the highest point at 345 feet. The uplands consist of several ecosystems, including pine flat woods, scrub and high pine and temperate hardwood forests. The majority of the uplands consist of pine flat woods, which evolved under frequent lightning-caused and human-caused fires.
How are dunes formed?
Dunes are formed as the wind carries sediment inland from the beach, forming large linear accumulations of sand. The dunes on Florida's west coast tend to be short, and dunes in the Panhandle region of northern Florida tend to be taller.
How many islands are there in the Florida Keys?
The Florida Keys. The Florida Keys consist of 1,700 islands that form an archipelago running from the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula to the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico, home of Dry Tortugas National Park. Although the majority of the islands are uninhabited, some are popular vacation destinations, including Key West and Key Largo.
How big is the Everglades?
The Everglades covers 4,300 square miles , and water moves across the area at a slow pace from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay. The mild climate of the area provides an ideal habitat for birds, alligators, turtles and snakes.
What is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States?
Everglades. The Florida Everglades, an immense swamp about eight feet above sea level, is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Much of the area, which is dotted with bays, channels, lakes and islands, is protected as Everglades National Park, which was established in 1947.
What are the ecosystems of the Uplands?
The uplands consist of several ecosystems, including pine flat woods, scrub and high pine and temperate hardwood forests. The majority of the uplands consist of pine flat woods, which evolved under frequent lightning-caused and human-caused fires.