In Miami, the first outdoor ATMs were installed. Can you guess who they were primarily designed for? In the southern part of Florida, there is a village inhabited by dozens of clowns. Keep reading to discover that a pharmacist from Miami Beach created one of the world’s first sunscreens using an ingredient commonly found in sweet treats.
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Table of Contents
- Man Attempted to Cross the Ocean from Florida to Bermuda Inside an Inflatable Bubble
- A Village of Clowns Exists in Florida
- The Smallest Post Office in the U.S. Is in Ochopee
- Walt Disney World Resort Functioned as a State Within a State
- Record Temperatures in Florida
- Florida Is Not the Southernmost U.S. State
- Alligators and Crocodiles Coexist in the Wild in Florida
- Gatorade Was Originally Developed for University of Florida Athletes
- Fort Jefferson Was Built with 16 Million Bricks
- DeFuniak Lake in Florida Is Nearly a Perfect Circle
- Florida Is the Flattest State in the U.S.
- St. Johns River Flows from South to North
- 300-Year-Old Bottles Discovered Off Florida’s Coast
- A Unique Highway That Runs Over the Ocean
- Jacksonville Is the Largest City by Land Area in the U.S.
- The First Outdoor ATMs Were Installed in Miami
- The World’s Smallest Police Station Was in Carrabelle
- Florida’s Coast Is Home to the Only Living Coral Reef in the U.S.
- Sunscreen Was Invented in Florida
- Miami Is the Only U.S. City Bordering Two National Parks
- Spook Hill Optical Illusion Defies Gravity
Man Attempted to Cross the Ocean from Florida to Bermuda Inside an Inflatable Bubble
In 2014, Reza Baluchi attempted to travel from Florida to Bermuda across the ocean while sealed inside an inflatable zorbing ball. The Coast Guard urged him to abandon his journey, but Baluchi refused. Three days later, he requested assistance, resulting in a rescue mission involving a plane, a helicopter, and a boat, costing $144,000 at the time.
In 2023, Reza Baluchi made another attempt, this time using a hamster-wheel-like device. He was intercepted by the Coast Guard during this attempt. The shortest distance between Miami and the Bahamas is 52 mi in a straight line.
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A Village of Clowns Exists in Florida
In the small town of Gibsonton, near Tampa, Florida, there is a residential community inhabited by former circus performers, including dozens of professional clowns. Known as “Gibtown,” the town has long served as a winter retreat for carnival workers who travel for performances during the summer season.
The village is filled with carnival attractions, giant props, and cages for exotic animals. In Gibsonton, it is common to encounter bearded ladies, former strongmen, and acrobats living as neighbors.
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The Smallest Post Office in the U.S. Is in Ochopee
In the small village of Ochopee, in southern Florida, stands the smallest operational post office in the United States. The tiny structure, measuring approximately 7 ft × 8 ft, was originally a storage shed for irrigation pipes on a tomato farm.
When the local post office burned down in 1953, residents converted the shed into a temporary post office, which later became a permanent facility. Despite its size, it operates daily with the ZIP code 34141. The post office is known for its unique stamp, highly valued by stamp collectors worldwide.
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Walt Disney World Resort Functioned as a State Within a State
Since the 1960s, Walt Disney World Resort, near Orlando, was part of a special self-governing district known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District until 2023. This special status allowed Disney to issue bonds, build roads, manage public utilities, and enact construction regulations with minimal external oversight. The district, spanning 39.06 mi², included the municipalities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake.
In 2023, new legislation restructured the district, renaming it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and placing it under the control of the state of Florida.
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Record Temperatures in Florida
The highest recorded temperature in Florida was 109.0°F, measured on June 29, 1931, in the city of Monticello.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Florida was -2.0°F, observed by meteorologists on February 13, 1899, in Tallahassee.
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Florida Is Not the Southernmost U.S. State
Florida is the southernmost state of the mainland United States, but Hawaii is located even farther south, making it the true southernmost U.S. state.
The southernmost point in the United States is Ka Lae on the Big Island of Hawaii, situated at a latitude of 18.91°N, whereas Florida’s southernmost point, Key West, is at approximately 24.55°N. The entire Hawaiian archipelago in the Pacific Ocean is located farther south than any point in Florida.
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Alligators and Crocodiles Coexist in the Wild in Florida
Southern Florida is one of the few places in the world where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist in the wild. These reptiles inhabit different ecosystems within Florida’s waters, often found in coastal areas and in Everglades National Park.
Alligators are more common and adapt to a variety of habitats, while crocodiles prefer saltwater environments and coastal mangroves.
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Gatorade Was Originally Developed for University of Florida Athletes
The sports drink Gatorade was developed in 1965 by a team of researchers led by Dr. Robert Cade to help University of Florida football players combat heat-related illnesses. The formula combined water, electrolytes, and carbohydrates to replenish fluids and nutrients lost through sweating.
The drink’s effectiveness quickly gained attention from other sports teams, sparking widespread interest. Commercial production began soon after. The name “Gatorade” comes from the Florida Gators football team, paying homage to its university origins.
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Fort Jefferson Was Built with 16 Million Bricks
Fort Jefferson is the largest brick structure in the United States, located in Dry Tortugas National Park, about 70 mi west of Key West. Built in the mid-19th century, Fort Jefferson was designed as a hexagonal fortress, but despite its unique architecture, it was never completed or fully armed as originally planned.
Interestingly, Fort Jefferson is accessible only by ferry or seaplane. Over the years, it has served multiple purposes, including as a prison during the American Civil War. One of its most famous prisoners was Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was convicted for aiding John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865.
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DeFuniak Lake in Florida Is Nearly a Perfect Circle
DeFuniak Lake, located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, spans 40 acres and is known for its nearly perfect circular shape.
One theory suggests that the lake formed due to a sinkhole. Underground water gradually dissolved limestone beneath the surface, creating cavities that eventually collapsed and filled with water. This process may have contributed to the lake’s circular shape.
In 2014, a survey was conducted that revealed a significant drop in the lakebed, measuring a depth of 70.0 ft. Divers discovered a large trench at the source of the water flow into the lake, suggesting the possible presence of underwater caves. These findings support the theory that the lake was formed by a sinkhole.
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Florida Is the Flattest State in the U.S.
Florida is the flattest state in the entire United States. Its highest point, Britton Hill, located near the Alabama border, stands at just 345.0 ft above sea level. Due to its flat terrain, Florida is characterized by extensive wetlands and a high vulnerability to flooding and storm surges.
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St. Johns River Flows from South to North
St. Johns River in Florida is one of the few rivers in the United States that flows from south to north. It originates in the marshes of Indian River County in the southeastern part of the state and meanders north for approximately 310 mi before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville.
Throughout its entire length, the river drops by less than 30 ft, contributing to its slow and calm flow. Most rivers in the United States flow south due to the region’s topography.
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300-Year-Old Bottles Discovered Off Florida’s Coast
In 2021 and 2022, divers off the coast of Indian River County, Florida, discovered two rare 18th-century glass bottles. These hand-blown onion-shaped bottles likely originated from a shipwreck of the Spanish fleet from 1715.
Characterized by their distinctive shape, the glass bottles were probably made in England and used for storing alcohol. The fleet, consisting of 11 ships, was sailing from Cuba to Spain when it was struck by a hurricane, resulting in one of the greatest maritime disasters of the time. The bottles survived centuries underwater and were carefully restored after being recovered.
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A Unique Highway That Runs Over the Ocean
Overseas Highway is a 113 mi-long highway that connects the chain of islands known as the Florida Keys. This highway is unique in its construction, as it runs entirely on bridges and causeways above turquoise waters.
Overseas Highway includes several scenic rest stops offering breathtaking views of the surrounding bay.
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Jacksonville Is the Largest City by Land Area in the U.S.
Jacksonville, located on Florida’s east coast, is the largest city by land area in the contiguous United States. The city covers approximately 874.46 mi².
Jacksonville’s vast area results from a 1968 consolidation of the city and county governments. Despite its urban status, much of its land consists of wetlands, forests, and suburban areas. The consolidation aimed to improve efficiency and reduce corruption.
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The First Outdoor ATMs Were Installed in Miami
In 1996, Citibank installed the first outdoor ATMs in Miami, specifically designed for inline skaters. They were placed along the popular Ocean Drive pathway in Miami Beach to accommodate the city’s active sports community. The ATMs featured an access ramp, allowing skaters to use them without removing their skates.
The first ATM in the United States was introduced by Chemical Bank in Rockville Centre, New York, on September 2, 1969.
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The World’s Smallest Police Station Was in Carrabelle
The town of Carrabelle, Florida, was once home to what was allegedly the world’s smallest police station. Located at the corner of US 98 and Tallahassee Street, it originally consisted of a police telephone mounted on a building. The town frequently faced issues with tourists using the phone for unauthorized long-distance calls.
To address this, St. Joe Telephone Company relocated the device to another building, but the problem persisted. Around this time, an employee of the company noticed that officers were getting soaked in the rain while waiting for calls. As a solution, the police telephone was placed inside an old phone booth.
While the booth provided officers with shelter, unauthorized calls continued. Eventually, the dial was removed to prevent tourists from making calls. The booth was later removed from the street and is now displayed inside the local police station.
The world’s smallest police station has been featured in several television programs.
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Florida’s Coast Is Home to the Only Living Coral Reef in the U.S.
Off the coast of the Florida Keys, spanning 360 mi, lies the only living coral barrier reef in the contiguous United States. This reef is home to thousands of marine species, from vibrant fish to intricate coral formations.
The reef serves as a natural barrier against ocean storms. Scientists study its unique biodiversity to better understand the effects of climate change and coral bleaching.
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Sunscreen Was Invented in Florida
During World War II in 1944, a pharmacist from Miami, Benjamin Green, developed one of the first effective sunscreens. A U.S. Air Force pilot, Green was concerned about the harmful effects of prolonged sun exposure on soldiers stationed in the South Pacific. He formulated a sunscreen using red veterinary petroleum jelly, coconut oil, and cocoa butter.
This early sunscreen protected soldiers from ultraviolet radiation, reducing the risk of sunburn and related skin issues. Benjamin Green’s invention laid the foundation for modern sun protection products. His formula later became the basis for the popular Coppertone brand.
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Miami Is the Only U.S. City Bordering Two National Parks
Miami is the only metropolitan area in the United States that directly borders two national parks.
To the west lies Everglades National Park, home to unique subtropical wilderness, including alligators, Florida panthers, and wading birds. Biscayne National Park, located east of Miami, protects Biscayne Bay, with its coral reefs and small islands providing ideal conditions for snorkeling.
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Spook Hill Optical Illusion Defies Gravity
In Lake Wales, Florida, there is a road known as Spook Hill that creates the illusion that cars roll uphill when in neutral. This optical illusion is caused by the slight slope of the surrounding terrain, which tricks the eye into perceiving an incline.
Simply stop at the white line and put the car in neutral. The car will then appear to roll back uphill. The town of Lake Wales has turned this phenomenon into a local attraction, complete with a sign detailing the legend of a giant alligator spirit.
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