Things to do / Travel Guide
The South Florida region includes the entire lower part of the Florida peninsula, from Jupiter on the state's eastern coast to the Fort Myers area on the state's western coast. The region also includes the string of islands off the southern tip of the state, the Florida Keys. The largest city in the South Florida region is Miami, which is part of a greater metropolitan area called Metro-Dade.
The South Florida region is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean off its east coast and the Gulf of Mexico off its west coast. The land in South Florida is very flat, with Miami's highest point being only about 30 feet above sea level. Much of the land area is swampland, most notably the Everglades west of Miami. The Florida Keys are located just south of Miami and stretch about 150 miles in a southwesterly direction. Key West is the southernmost point in the continental U.S.
The predominant feature of the South Florida region is its long, uneven coastline, which features countless beaches, bays, and harbors. A very interesting feature on the region's East Coast, is the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW). Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the ICW is located between the string of barrier islands and the mainland. There are many bridges along the coast crossing the ICW, providing access to the Atlantic Ocean beachfront. The ICW serves as a major marine passageway for both commercial and pleasure watercraft.
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