Water defines Florida’s geography, surrounding the peninsula and threading through its interior.
* **The Oceans:** Bordered by the **Atlantic Ocean** to the east and the **Gulf of Mexico** to the west, offering over 1,300 miles of coastline. * **Lake Okeechobee:** Known as Florida's Inland Sea, it is the largest freshwater lake in the state and central to the Everglades ecosystem. * **Rivers:** The **St. Johns River** is the longest river in the state (and one of the few in the US that flows north). The **Suwannee River**, immortalized in song, flows through untouched wilderness into the Gulf. * **Natural Springs:** Florida boasts the largest concentration of freshwater springs in the world, including Wakulla Springs, Rainbow Springs, and Ichetucknee Springs, providing crystal-clear, 72-degree waters year-round.