Oh, look. It's Belle!  Belle would like to say this is an educational and fun page with some interesting facts.   She says she had fun reading it and looking at all of the wonderful photos, and she knows you will too......

FLORIDA  

The Sunshine State 

GOVERNOR:  Jeb Bush

CAPITAL CITY:   Tallahassee 

See the flag waving?

LARGEST CITY:  Jacksonville 

SECOND LARGEST CITY:  Miami 

LARGEST COUNTY:  Dade 

AREA 65,758 sq. miles; 53,997 sq. miles land, 11,761 sq. miles water. Second largest coastline after Alaska: 580 miles along the Atlantic Ocean; 770 miles along the Gulf of Mexico. (22nd Largest state) 

HIGHEST ELEVATION 345 ft.:  Walton County

 LOWEST POINT:  Sea level 

ABBREVIATION:  FL (postal); Fla. (traditional) 

PART OF REGION:  South; Gulf States 

ADMISSION DATE:  March 3, 1845 (27th State) 

LOCATION:  In the southeast United States, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, the Straits of Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama & Georgia. 

NAME ORIGIN:  Named Pascua Florida by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, who discovered it in 1513 on or near Easter. From Spanish pascua "Easter" and florida "flowered"; the name may also allude to the many flowers he saw here. 

Juan Ponce de Leon

STATE ANIMAL:  Florida panther (Felis Concolor) 

STATE BEVERAGE:  Orange Juice 

Yes, the orange juice is moving.  Makes you want a glass of it right now, doesn't it?!  Maybe if you light your Orange Scented candles, you can smell your way to a nice tall glass full!

STATE BIRD:  Mockingbird (Mimus Polyglottos) 

An interesting fact about the Mockingbird is that it has been my experience while living in Florida to have seen Mockingbirds screeching and fighting.   You actually see them in your yard and on the street fighting with each other.  They have also been known to attack people!!  While researching for this site, I too have learned a lot.  It seems that the Mockingbird, and several other species indigenous to the tropical regions, are very territorially bound.  If a human is attacked by a Mockingbird, usually the answer as to why is not a mystery.  It seems you will have been found to be near a nest, or near its young.  This isn't a bad thing, but just the instinct of every parent!!

STATE FISH:

 Freshwater: Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides)

Water animations will be seen in a few photos throughout this site in different ways.

Saltwater: Atlantic Sailfish (Istiophorus Platypterus )

STATE FLOWER:  Orange blossom 

STATE SHELL:  Horse Conch (Pleuroploca Gigantea) 

 STATE STONE:  Agatized Coral 

There are many versions of Agatized Coral.  This is black Agatized Coral with Agatized Shells found inside.

"Agate, or chalcedony, is a variety of cryptocrystalline quartz"

STATE TREE:  Sabal Palmetto Palm

Windy effect here

STATE FLAG:

STATE MOTTO In God We Trust

STATE SONG "Old Folks at Home" aka "Swanee River"

&

Julian Cannonball Adderley jazz saxophonist, Tampa
Pat Boone singer, Jacksonville
Fernando Bujones ballet dancer, Miami
Steve Carlton baseball player, Miami
Howie Dorough singer, Orlando
Fay Dunaway actress, Bascom
Stepin Fetchit comedian, Key West
Dwight Gooden baseball player, Tampa
Zora Neale Hurston writer, Eatonville
James Weldon Johnson author, educator, Jacksonville
Frances Langford singer, Lakeland
A. J. McLean singer, West Palm Beach
Butterfly McQueen actress, Tampa
Jim Morrison singer, Melbourne
Osceola Seminole Indian leader
Sidney Poitier actor, Miami
A. Philip Randolph labor leader, Crescent City
Janet Reno attorney general, Miami
David Robinson basketball, Key West
Joseph W. Stilwell army general, Palatka
Don Sutton baseball player, Pensacola
Norman E. Thargard astronaut
Ben Vereen actor, Miami

Awww....Mickey is wondering why he and his friends are not listed along with the other Famous Floridians! LOL....Well, don't worry Mickey.  You are famous in SO many special ways, you and your friends don't need to be listed! 

Mickey thinks we should head out for some fun! Let's go to Seaworld! 

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