Florida Alphabet Book Text

Note: You can use this text to make an ABC book of Florida.  These items match the pictures in "Florida ABC Pix".  Each item has a sentence or short paragraph that you can type between the  <H2> and  </H2> tags on that page (or if you prefer, open D:\Florida ABC Pix\Text Content and Copy these paragraphs and Paste them between the <H2> and  </H2> tags).

A is for alligators.
Once on the endangered list, they have come back in numbers and are no longer on the list. The alligator is the state reptile. 
B is for beach. 
Florida has many beautiful beaches. This beach is on the west coast along the gulf.
C is for capital.
Tallahassee is the capital of Florida. It is located in the northern part of the state along the "panhandle".
D is for Disney World. 
It is located in Orlando, Florida. This is Cinderella's Castle.
E is for Everglades.
The Everglades National Part is the 3rd largest in the United States. 
F is for flamingo.
This is one of many birds found in Florida.
G is for GatorsGalore. 
Check out http://www.gatorsforkids.com/ to see what Naples, Florida has 
done for a charity function. Come and see 69 of the most interesting alligators you will ever encounter.
H is for horse racing.
Hialeah Race Track is famous for its beautiful gardens and horse racing.
I is for islands. 
There are many beautiful islands along Florida's coastline. Many have wonderful coral reefs, good for snorkeling.
J is for Jacksonville.
This city of over 700,000 is located on  the north eastern shores of Florida. 
K is for keys.
The Florida Keys provide a very unique environment. The road stretches over many miles with the Atlantic on one side of the road and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. 
L is for lizard.
You can find many different kinds of lizards all over Florida. Here is one displaying his vibrant colored pouch.
M is for manatee.
The Florida manatee is one of the most endangered marine mammals in coastal waters in the United States. It has been listed as an endangered species since 1967. The major threats to the manatee are boats colliding with the animals, and destruction and degradation of habitat caused by widespread development throughout the species' Florida range. 
N is for NASA.
NASA Kennedy Space Flight Center is the place where the Space Shuttle is launched.
O is for oranges.
Oranges are just one of the many citrus fruits grown in the state. The orange blossom is the state flower.

P is for panther.
At this url http://www.panther.state.fl.us/ you can learn more about this elusive endangered  animal. You will find many resources for students and teachers. The Florida panther is the state animal.
Q is for quick.
Once the Spanish explorers arrived the extinction of the Calusa Indians was quick.  Calusa Indians were thought to have inhabited this area in peace from 300 AD until 1513 when it's believed Ponce De Leon landed on the west side of Pine Island.  The Spanish not only fought the Calusas but introduced diseases they had no immunity to, wiping them our by the 1700's. 
R is for royal poinciana
Just take a look at the royal poinciana, a large tree with showy clusters of flowers ranging in color from
bright orange to red. Known as the Flamboyant' in most tropical countries, it typically blooms in South Florida in June and July.
S is for Seminole.
The name Seminole comes from the Spanish word "cimarrones", or free people, because they would not allow themselves to be dominated by the Europeans.  Eventually all of the Native Americans living in Florida were referred to as "Seminoles." Today seminole clothing create clothing that retains the traditional 'patchwork' look.
T is for Tampa.
Here you see the beautiful domes of the University of Tampa lit by a full moon.
U is for Universal Studios.
This theme park, located in Orlando, is one of many attractions in the Orlando area.
V is for vulture.
The black vulture and the turkey vulture are common land birds in Florida. Turkey Vultures are scavengers, eating carrion (dead animals). When carrion is not available, vultures will eat various plant foods, including pumpkin, grass and seeds. 
W is for Weeki Wachee Springs.
This attraction opened up in 1947 and featured "live mermaids". You can even join "mermaid school" if you have time for a few classes.
X marks the spot for the Dry Tortugas.
X marks the spot for the Dry Tortugas National Park, the most inaccessible National park, located about 70 miles west of Key West. You can reach it by boat, ferry service.
Once used to imprison captured military deserters during the Civil War and four men implicated in the plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln, Fort Jefferson on Garden Key has a long history guarding United States interests in the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. Submerged cultural resources that will be protected by the new Dry Tortugas National Park management plan also include a significant number of shipwrecks dating back to 1622. 
Y is for yellow tail.
Yellow tail is a common fish found in Florida waters. Fishing all around Florida's coast line is a delight.
Z is for Zone.
Manatee Zones have been set up to help keep injury and death down for the endangered manatee. Strict fines are imposed on violators. 
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