Florida Physical Map

About Florida Physical Map

Explore physical map of Florida state of United States showing geographical / physical features with rivers, landforms, mountains, plateau, peaks, lakes, etc.

Major Rivers of Florida

St. Johns River
Suwannee River
Apalachicola River
Peace River
Kissimmee River
Withlacoochee River
Caloosahatchee River
Ochlockonee River
Myakka River
Alafia River
Santa Fe River
Hillsborough River
Aucilla River
Econlockhatchee River
Escambia River
Blackwater River
St. Marks River
Waccasassa River
Steinhatchee River
Indian River

Highlands and Ridges in Florida

Bombing Range Ridge
Brooksville Ridge
Cypress Hills
Lake Wales Ridge
Mount Dora Ridge
Trail Ridge
Western Valley Ridge

Plain of Florida

Atlantic Coastal Plain
Big Bend Coastal Plain
East Gulf Coastal Plain
Okeechobee Plain
Osceola Plain
St. Johns River Plain

High Points and Hills

Britton Hill
Highland Ridge
Iron Mountain
Oak Hill
Pleasant Ridge
Sandy Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain

Major Lakes

Blue Cypress Lake
Lake Apopka
Lake Eustis
Lake George
Lake Griffin
Lake Harris
Lake Istokpoga
Lake Kissimmee
Lake Monroe
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Panasoffkee
Lake Seminole
Lake Talquin
Lake Tohopekaliga
Orange Lake

National Parks

Biscayne National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park
Everglades National Park

Physical Features of Florida

Florida is an diverse in geography state with a combination of coastal plains, wetlands, barrier islands, rivers, lakes and upland regions. It is in the southeastern United States and has an area of about 65,758 square miles, which makes it the 22nd largest state. They do however have a number of physical features including low elevation, an extensive coastline and subtropical to tropical climate. Florida is bordered to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, with more than 1,350 miles of coastline, the most of any contiguous United States state. It’s specific physical geography also determines its climate, ecosystems and economic activities such as tourism, agriculture and trade.

Coastal Features and Barrier Islands

Florida has long, wide stretches of coastline, which include barrier islands, bays, estuaries and sandy beaches. The eastern coast of Florida has high energy waves and long, straight beaches, while the western coast has more calm waters and wider continental shelves due to being on the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Keys, a coral island chain stretching 125 miles southwest from the mainland are perhaps one of the most unique coastal features in the United States. The east and west coasts of Florida have barrier islands which protect against storm surges and hurricanes, and also support mangrove and salt marsh ecosystems. These islands are also important for wildlife, holding critical role as sea turtle nesting grounds and stopping over for migratory birds.

Wetlands and Everglades

One of the biggest wetland systems in the world is in Florida, and the Everglades are the most prominent of them. The Everglades extend over 1.5 million acres and are a key wetland area in the subtropical climate for water filtration and flood control. Slower moving waters, sawgrass marshes, and mangrove forests characterize the Everglades. American alligators, West Indian manatees, and the endangered Florida panther are some of the wildlife that the unique ecosystem supports. Other wetland areas include the Big Cypress Swamp and the St. Johns River marshes, which are also important for biodiversity and hydrology of Florida. Water quality and saltwater intrusion into freshwater systems depend much on the wetlands.

Lakes and Rivers

Florida has a great number of rivers and lakes that hold source of fresh water for the state. The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida and it runs 310 miles from Indian River County up to its terminus near Jacksonville. It is one of the few rivers in North America that run from south to north. The Suwannee River is another important waterway, which begins in Georgia and ends in the Gulf of Mexico, running through karst topography with many springs and sinkholes. Lake Okeechobee is the largest and the only freshwater lake in Florida and covers about 730 square miles to sustain agricultural and urban use of water of the south Florida region. There are more than 7,800 lakes in the state including Lake George, Lake Apopka, and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, which are used for water management and recreational purposes.

Uplands and Karst Topography

Although Florida is generally a low lying state there are areas of slightly higher ground called uplands. Britton Hill, the highest point in Florida is just 345 feet above sea level, making it the lowest high point of any U.S. state. The central and northern regions of Florida have rolling hills, and the Lake Wales Ridge is one of the most significant areas of uplands. This ridge, running north to south through the state, is made up of ancient sand dunes which support rare plant species. Karst topography, limestone formations, underground rivers, and sinkholes dominate Florida's geology. Florida's limestone bedrock is porous and when combined with the region's karst topography it can lead to the development of natural springs like Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs, two of the world's largest freshwater springs. These springs support aquatic life and are a leading swimming, diving and kayaking destination.

Climate and Its Influence on Physical Features

The physical landscape of Florida is greatly affected by the climate of the state. In the north, it has a humid subtropical climate; in the south, it has a tropical climate. It is rather hot and humid in the summer with many thunderstorms in the afternoon, whereas the winter is quite mild and Florida is one of the warmest states in the country. This is because the state receives high rainfall and has a porous limestone rock foundation which results in formation of sinkholes which are common in the central part of the state. The state is also very prone to hurricanes, which erode the coasts, modify barrier islands and impact wetlands. These include changes in beach nourishment, wetland restoration and infrastructure adaptation due to climate change and rising sea levels.

Environmental Challenges and Conservation Efforts

Increasingly, human activities, climate change, and natural disasters are impacting Florida’s physical features. Erosion along the coasts, saltwater intrusion, and habitat destruction are major problems that endanger Florida’s environments. The Florida Everglades have been shrunken by more than two-thirds, once covering nearly one-third of the state, due to farming and city growth. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is a conservation effort to try to restore the flow of water and save native species. The efforts are also being made to manage water resources, fight pollution, and conserve Florida’s unique karst topography and spring systems. As such, sustainable land use policies and environmental protection measures are crucial to the long-term health of Florida’s varied terrain.