Florida, nicknamed ‘The Sunshine State’, is home to 20 million people, making it the fourth most populous state in the Union. It is a large state, being bigger than many countries. It is, for example, bigger than England.

Florida is the most southeasterly state in the United States,and the most southeasterly part of North America. It is mostly a long peninsular, with the Gulf of Mexico to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

A small part of Florida also stretches westwards along the Gulf Coast to join with Alabama. This part is called the ‘panhandle’. Florida is also very close to many Caribbean countries, especially The Bahamas and Cuba, and can expect growth as these countries begin to trade more with the United States.