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Miami is a major city located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Florida. Miami and the surrounding metropolitan area sits between the Miami River, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second largest city in Florida and the county seat (and largest city) of Miami-Dade County. It is also the largest city in the South Florida metropolitan area, which is comprised of Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County making up the largest metropolitan area in the Southeastern United States.
Miami was officially incorporated as a city on July 28, 1896 with a population of just over 300. In 1940, 172,172 people lived in Miami, Florida. According to the 2000 census the city of Miami had a population of 362,470 while the larger metropolitan area had a population over 5 million. The U.S. Census Bureau estimate of the population of Miami in 2004 was 379,724 1.
Miami's explosive population growth in recent years has been driven by internal migration from other parts of the country as well as by immigration. Greater Miami is regarded as a cultural melting pot, heavily influenced both by its very large population of ethnic Latin Americans and Caribbean islanders (many of them Spanish- or Haitian Creole-speaking).
The region's importance as an international financial and cultural center has elevated Miami to the status of world city; because of its cultural and linguistic ties to North, South, Central America, and the Caribbean it is sometimes called "The Gateway of the Americas." Miami, along with Atlanta, ranks as one of the most important business centers in the Southeastern United States.
Two vessels of the U.S. Navy have been named USS Miami in honor of the city.
Activities
Skydiving
There's plenty of opportunities to taste the air around Miami, with many adventure companies offering planes and equipment. At Homestead General Aviation Airport you can be trained up and pushed out of a plane for your first jump, all in one day.
Diving
There's great diving 8km (5mi) east of Key Biscayne, where the Biscayne Wreck lies beneath the Atlantic. Southeast of Key Biscayne is the John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park, a protected 202 sq km (78 sq mi) section of the Florida Reef (the third largest in the world). The best diving and snorkelling within the park is around Elkhorn Reef, Schooner Wreck Reef and Dome Reef. Key Largo makes a good base for exploring the park. The southern shore of Key West is another prime diving spot, especially around Key West Harbor.
Canoeing/kayaking
There is something magical about kayaking through the mangroves, and the best thing about it is that you don't need any lessons and you can rent equipment easily and cheaply. Head for the Everglades to canoe around the 10,000 Islands or along the Wilderness Waterway between Everglades City and Flamingo.
Air
Ultralight aircraft have become so popular that Dade County has built a field specifically for the tiny planes at Homestead General Aviation Airport (HGAA). Ultralights are small aircraft that are regulated, but require no pilot's license to fly.
Team sports
Local teams followed religiously by Miamians include the Miami Dolphins (tel: 305-620 2578) in the NFL football league (Sep-Dec); the Florida Marlins (tel: 305-626 7400) of Major-league baseball fame (Apr-Sep), both housed at the ProPlayer Stadium (2269 Dan Marino Blvd). The Miami Heat (tel: 305-577 4328) play NBA (Nov-Apr) basketball at the American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd). The Florida Panthers (tel: 954-835 7000) play NHL hockey (Oct-Apr) at the Florida Panthers Hockey Club (One Panther Parkway, Sunrise), and Miami Fusion (888-387-4664) of Major-league soccer (Mar-Sep) play at the Lockhart Stadium (5201 NW 12th Ave) in Fort Lauderdale.
Events Overview
There are special events all the time in Miami, a city known for its partying, though during the summer months the pickings are slim. The biggest event of them all is the Carnaval Miami, a nine-day festival at the beginning of March, which includes a Miss Carnaval contest, Carnaval Night concerts at the Orange Bowl, an inline skating contest, jazz concerts, a Latin drag show, and a Calle Ocho cooking contest. The Calle Ocho Festival is the culmination of Carnaval Miami and a great time to be in Little Havana, since there are lots of concerts, giveaways and Cuban food.
The International Hispanic Theater Festival from late May to mid-June is one of the largest Hispanic theatre events in the US, featuring US, Latin American, Caribbean and European theatre companies at the El Carrusel Theater in Coral Gables. The Annual Miami Reggae Festival in early August is a huge celebration of the music, held at Bayfront park.
Literary types might want to make it to the Miami Book Fair, held during the second week of November. This international book fair is among the most well attended in the US, with hundreds of nationally known writers joining similar numbers of publishers and hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Sorry, no tips were foundMiami was officially incorporated as a city on July 28, 1896 with a population of just over 300. In 1940, 172,172 people lived in Miami, Florida. According to the 2000 census the city of Miami had a population of 362,470 while the larger metropolitan area had a population over 5 million. The U.S. Census Bureau estimate of the population of Miami in 2004 was 379,724 1.
Miami's explosive population growth in recent years has been driven by internal migration from other parts of the country as well as by immigration. Greater Miami is regarded as a cultural melting pot, heavily influenced both by its very large population of ethnic Latin Americans and Caribbean islanders (many of them Spanish- or Haitian Creole-speaking).
The region's importance as an international financial and cultural center has elevated Miami to the status of world city; because of its cultural and linguistic ties to North, South, Central America, and the Caribbean it is sometimes called "The Gateway of the Americas." Miami, along with Atlanta, ranks as one of the most important business centers in the Southeastern United States.
Two vessels of the U.S. Navy have been named USS Miami in honor of the city.
Activities
Skydiving
There's plenty of opportunities to taste the air around Miami, with many adventure companies offering planes and equipment. At Homestead General Aviation Airport you can be trained up and pushed out of a plane for your first jump, all in one day.
Diving
There's great diving 8km (5mi) east of Key Biscayne, where the Biscayne Wreck lies beneath the Atlantic. Southeast of Key Biscayne is the John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park, a protected 202 sq km (78 sq mi) section of the Florida Reef (the third largest in the world). The best diving and snorkelling within the park is around Elkhorn Reef, Schooner Wreck Reef and Dome Reef. Key Largo makes a good base for exploring the park. The southern shore of Key West is another prime diving spot, especially around Key West Harbor.
Canoeing/kayaking
There is something magical about kayaking through the mangroves, and the best thing about it is that you don't need any lessons and you can rent equipment easily and cheaply. Head for the Everglades to canoe around the 10,000 Islands or along the Wilderness Waterway between Everglades City and Flamingo.
Air
Ultralight aircraft have become so popular that Dade County has built a field specifically for the tiny planes at Homestead General Aviation Airport (HGAA). Ultralights are small aircraft that are regulated, but require no pilot's license to fly.
Team sports
Local teams followed religiously by Miamians include the Miami Dolphins (tel: 305-620 2578) in the NFL football league (Sep-Dec); the Florida Marlins (tel: 305-626 7400) of Major-league baseball fame (Apr-Sep), both housed at the ProPlayer Stadium (2269 Dan Marino Blvd). The Miami Heat (tel: 305-577 4328) play NBA (Nov-Apr) basketball at the American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd). The Florida Panthers (tel: 954-835 7000) play NHL hockey (Oct-Apr) at the Florida Panthers Hockey Club (One Panther Parkway, Sunrise), and Miami Fusion (888-387-4664) of Major-league soccer (Mar-Sep) play at the Lockhart Stadium (5201 NW 12th Ave) in Fort Lauderdale.
Events Overview
There are special events all the time in Miami, a city known for its partying, though during the summer months the pickings are slim. The biggest event of them all is the Carnaval Miami, a nine-day festival at the beginning of March, which includes a Miss Carnaval contest, Carnaval Night concerts at the Orange Bowl, an inline skating contest, jazz concerts, a Latin drag show, and a Calle Ocho cooking contest. The Calle Ocho Festival is the culmination of Carnaval Miami and a great time to be in Little Havana, since there are lots of concerts, giveaways and Cuban food.
The International Hispanic Theater Festival from late May to mid-June is one of the largest Hispanic theatre events in the US, featuring US, Latin American, Caribbean and European theatre companies at the El Carrusel Theater in Coral Gables. The Annual Miami Reggae Festival in early August is a huge celebration of the music, held at Bayfront park.
Literary types might want to make it to the Miami Book Fair, held during the second week of November. This international book fair is among the most well attended in the US, with hundreds of nationally known writers joining similar numbers of publishers and hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Last edited by Anna (3:35, 12 February 2006)
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