7 Fascinating Bird’s-Eye-Views of Florida
Although not necessarily tourist attractions, there are a number of incredibly fascinating views of Florida that won’t be noticed or really appreciated from ground level.
Seeing as it’s doubtful you’ll be able to spot them from the plane on the way in we thought we’d pick a selection of the most intriguing and use Google Maps to point them out for you. If you know of any others equally as fascinating, let us know in the comments.
(If you fancy seeing more, simply click on the photos to be taken to the area on Google Maps itself)
The Blue Rooftops of Pensacola
The blue rooftops in the photos above aren’t a design feature, they’re actually temporary fixtures used to cover roofs damaged as a result of extreme weather conditions, something all too familiar to residents in certain parts of Florida. The ones that can be seen around Pensacola on Google Maps were just some of the tarps administered by FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof during the 2005 hurricane season, one of the worst in recorded history.
The Disc of Rotonda West
After looking at the area from above it’s unsurprising to discover that Rotonda West is a planned community in Charlotte County, Florida, the entire subdivision contained within a huge circle (29km²) which is then surrounded by a river. That circle is split into eight sections, all but one containing housing. The remaining slice is home to a burgeoning nature reserve.
Florida’s Silver Dollar Lake
Known by pilots as Silver Dollar Lake due to it’s near-perfect circular shape (a characteristic which has, unofficially at least, gained it the title of Most Circular Lake in the World), this 3km diameter lake is located in Clay County, Florida. Although no-one can be certain, the general consensus is that the lake was formed as a result of a sinkhole, mainly due to it’s shape and the nature of its sloping floor.
The Coral of Cape Coral
Cape Coral, with a population of just over 100,000 people, sits amongst over 400 miles of canals. It’s a beautiful area, even more so when you take a look from above and notice the amazing patterns created by the network of meticulously planned waterways. The area’s name suddenly begins to make sense.
Turkey Point’s Enormous Cooling Radiator
The close-up in the lower section of the picture above shows a portion of Turkey Point’s Nuclear Plant (which we’ve highlighted in the top section). That should give some sense of scale when looking at the gigantic system of 36 canals used by the station to cool water used within the complex - water which travels along a 136 mile journey through these canals for 2 days before being re-used.
Avon Park’s Gigantic Bombing Target
Avon Park Air Force Range, opened during World War II, was at one point the world’s largest bombing range. It’s no surprise then that this humungous bombing target can be clearly spotted using Google Maps, a facility used to train B-17 air crews in air-to-ground bombing. We’re not sure if you’ll be able to visit the target itself but some parts of the park are open to the public.
Mickey’s Forest
In 1992 it was announced by Disney that they were to begin reforesting parts of Florida in an effort to give something back to the area. The furthest they got was to plant Mickey’s Forest (above), a collection of 50,000 pine trees shaped in a way that should be familiar to the majority of people reading this. Surprisingly it’s relatively unknown to tourists and locals alike.
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July 9th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
We just moved to CO from SO FL after 25 years there. We really miss it. Many of the pics shown ARE known to local folks. Wonderful pics of a great state.
BUT…………………………….
Don’t let that Disney Gives Back get to you. All that is nothing but pure bovine residue. Look at the thousands of trees picture that looks like Steam Boat Willie himself. Then compare the area of replanting to the overall size that whole area. I have more trees in my backyard! It is also known by the local folks that the area around the whole theme park megaplex has been ruined and thousands of acres of wetlands and general habitat are gone forever. Mickey’s doings have poluted the area aquifer and has drawn down the local water table in that area to dangerously low levels. They are not good neighbors nor environmentaly conscious as the brochures and ads would imply. I should point out however, that Disney is no more damaging to Florida thatnBig Sugar is. BS has the politial process the FL so messed up and poluted that it’s hard stay elected if you don’t follow the lead of hundreds of local to state government to federal goverment lackeys that jump when the money of Big Sugar tells them too. Talk about regulating authorities looking the other way. They do so, so as not to see the rest of Florida bending over.
Still, most of FL is a wonderful place to live. Just remember to take your passport if you are going to visit south of Daytona Beach!
July 10th, 2008 at 2:01 am
I have to admit, the canal system in Cape Coral is quite extraordinary. However, having living by the Cape for the past three years, it is not a beautiful area. Try zooming in.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:14 am
I’m from Pensacola Beach. We had a roof covered by the tarp from an old ad billboard. There are parts of Pensacola seen on Google Maps where you can see these old advertisements used as make-shift roofs. There are also parts on the beach that just look white, like freshly-fallen snow. It’s not snow. It’s sand covering all the houses or houses missing.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:37 am
…remember to take your passport if you’re going to visit south of daytona beach”
and if you live above palm beach…er…south georgia make sure your house doesn’t get towed. it’s that part of florida where you’ll be challenged to find people with teeth or brain cells.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
“and if you live above palm beach…er…south georgia make sure your house doesn’t get towed. it’s that part of florida where you’ll be challenged to find people with teeth or brain cells.”
WHATEVER.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Brilliant retort, Lisa. You must be from right in the middle of Palm Beach. Do you have dental insurance?
July 11th, 2008 at 2:14 am
It’s amazing to me that people naturally assume that anyone living in the southern half of the U.S. are toothless rednecks. Besides being an unoriginal view of us, it’s ignorant and short sighted. There are stupid rednecks all over this country, and there are smart people all over this country. The location of your residence does not dictate the person you are, my suggestion is take a harder look at the people around you and maybe do a little traveling before you show your lack of understanding of the world around you.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:07 am
[…] I love anything shaped like Mickey Mouse and I thought I had seem them all. But a forest? Could you imagine the excitement of being in a plane and spotting this hidden mickey? For the full scoop read 7 Fascinating Bird’s-Eye-Views of Florida […]
July 11th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
FYI: The circular lake you referred to as “Silver Dollar Lake” is officially known as Kingsley Lake. I live in Jacksonville, Florida, and just about twenty miles from Kingsley.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
i hate mickey mouse and the way Americans go at each other for every little thing. We have soooo been divided and conquered!
July 11th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
[…] Villas Florida has posted 7 “fascinating views” of Florida features from the air, from the blue roofs of Pensacola to Mickey’s […]
July 13th, 2008 at 10:59 am
The circular lake is at a military base called Camp Blanding. I had the privilege of camping there in July of 2007 with an AF buddy. Parts of the movie “Tigerland” with Colin Farrell were filmed there and outside the front gate, there is a very good museum. Additionally, outdoor displays of various aircraft and military vehicles can be seen.
July 13th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Disney is a disaster to the wonderful State of Florida, unfortunately we have our Wal Mart’s all over the world to contend with. Dbentley you are so right and I am sure you can find similar problems in CO. We just do not take care of our Earth, development is unbridled and only chases the dollar. The pics are great, I lvoe a bird’s eye view of everything.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Wonderful …..
where did you get that?????
its really brilliant stuff
July 20th, 2008 at 7:40 am
[…] Guarda le foto […]
July 26th, 2008 at 7:23 am
[…] durch 7 Fascinating Bird’s-Eye-Views of Florida bin ich rüber nach Google-Maps und habe die entsprechenden Orte gesucht. Screenshots gibt’s […]
July 31st, 2008 at 2:32 pm
True, the most amazing sites in Florida are Cape Coral and Silver dollar lake! i personally find the later as the most relaxing and comfortable place to visit and stay
JWP
August 16th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I Love have more trees in my backyard! It is also known by the local folks that the area around the whole theme park megapixel has been ruined and thousands of acres of wetlands and general habitat are gone forever. Mickey’s doings have polluted the area aquifer and has drawn down the local water table in that area to dangerously low levels.
And so it is so beautiful to see that like that..
September 27th, 2008 at 3:30 am
[…] - bookmarked by 1 members originally found by guzman500 on 2008-09-16 7 Fascinating Bird’s-Eye-Views of Florida […]
October 7th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I was born and raised in Florida, lived there my whole life. I’ve hunted wild hogs in Rotunda before there were hardly any houses at all in there. My father took us to Disney World when it first opened. I’ve seen pretty much just about everything there is in Florida. Its my birth state I do love it for that. However, yea, there’s a however in there. The FLORIDA I knew and loved is gone. The Florida of the 1970’s where you could talk to a landowner and go hunting or fishing on their property is gone. There are so many golf courses that you’d swear the entire state has had to have sunk down at least 1 inch just due to the sheer weight of golf balls present on the land.
The heat and humidity have started soaring to where its almost unbearable anymore. The summer is horrendous. When you talk about 90+ Degrees with a relative humidity of 88% (average) that’s makes for a MISERABLE time. Try to go somewhere on the gulf coast between New Port Richey and Naples during Tourist Season… FORGET IT. You can forget what a restaurant is during that time, you will not get into one. The problem is that the service industry doesnt pay wages so that employees can even hardly make a living - yet the owners of the establishments make millions of dollars. Not Right. There are two levels of income in Florida, POVERTY and WEALTHY and few and far between in between. Try to buy a small house, just try. Get a little 2bed, 2 bath on 80X80 lot and it will set your silly A$$ back up to 175 Thousand dollars on average depending where you get it. That is beyond imagination and beyond belief. My father moved to Venice Florida in 1969 when he worked for General Telephone and had a house built for $19,000.00 including the LOT, with a POOL! It was an oversized lot too. That house now sells for over $300,000.00 - and its not a very nice looking house (ive driven by it last time I was there).
So, whats good about Florida? its a nice place to visit if you have Money and some time to waste. But dont think its a great place to live or stay for a long time. The summer is coming and so is tourist season. US41 and I75-95 will turn into Parking Lots. The Temperatures will drop you to your knees in sweat and you will feel like you have walked into a sauna with no means of escape.
But, I am a Native Floridian and I always will be.. However - I live near the Mountains in South Carolina because this is truly heaven on Earth!
November 9th, 2008 at 3:46 am
[…] Recent public urls tagged “fascinating” → 7 Fascinating Bird’s-Eye-Views of Florida […]
July 27th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
right on, James S. I live in Tampa for nearly 18 years and moved out by 2001. I couldn’t believe the corruption in city council and beyond, the sad destruction of pristine wilderness and spring fed rivers. These were horrible crimes. Locals did take action and stand up, waited in long lines after work to speak their minds at city council meetings. Some battles to save trees and delicate ecosystems were won, most lost. To make way for what? Cookie cutter homes that fall apart within 10 years. That’s just the beginning.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:34 am
If to be honest, I have never been in Florida. Breathtaking photos and great job!