Florida is a large state in the southeastern United States. It sits on a big peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. People often call it the Sunshine State because it has warm and sunny weather all year. Millions of visitors travel to Florida every year to see its famous theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando. The state also has long sandy beaches on both coasts, busy cities like Miami and Tampa, and the unique wetlands of the Everglades National Park. Florida was first inhabited by Native American groups for thousands of years before Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León arrived in 1513. Spain controlled the area for a long time until the United States bought it in 1819. Florida became the 27th U.S. state in 1845. Today, the state has a very diverse population and a strong economy based on tourism, agriculture like oranges, and aerospace technology from the Kennedy Space Center. Wildlife in Florida includes alligators, manatees, and many kinds of tropical birds. The southern tip of the state features the Florida Keys, which is a long chain of small islands connected by bridges. Summers in Florida are hot and humid with frequent rain showers, while winters are mild and dry. Hurricanes can sometimes hit the area during the Atlantic hurricane season from June to November. - @unstaofamerica