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Explore the States Florida
 
graphic map and images of Florida

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Called the "Sunshine State," Florida is known for its balmy, sunny weather and beautiful beaches. Ponce de Leon, in search of the elusive fountain of youth, was the first European to explore Florida. St. Augustine, founded by the Spanish in 1565, is the oldest permanent European settlement in the continental United States. Statehood for Florida came in 1845. Florida's state flower is the orange blossom, which is particularly fitting because oranges are a main export of the state. Because of its shape and location, a long peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Florida attracts millions of visitors each year to its many seaside resort areas. Its capital is Tallahassee.

Osceola, leader of the Seminoles
The Story of Osceola
Blast Off!
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More Stories About Florida
Florida
A Seed-spitting Contest!
"Chiefland Watermelon Festival"
A Window on Culture
"Myth and Dream: Exploring the Cultural Legacies of Florida and the Caribbean"
Blast Off!
"Thrust into Space: How the Space Program Changed Brevard County"
Cuban Carnival!
"Calle Ocho-Miami Carnival"
Happy Birthday Mr. Edison!
"Edison Pageant of Light"
How Do You Keep a Capital?
"Springtime Tallahassee"
The Story of Osceola
"Osceola in Florida"


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