23 Interesting Facts About Miami

Miami is the paradise dreamed by many people, on the one hand retired people, who aspire to spend a warm and golden retreat, and on the other several millions tourists who come every year attracted by one of the most iconic destinations on the planet.

If you are in the US and you want to spend a winter without cold, it's best to settle in Miami. It is the place in the country where the winters are warmer. The average temperature at that time of the year ranges between 18 and 23 degrees centigrade. It has snowed exactly once in Miami's official meteorological history. It was in January 1977 and in general it is considered that the chances of snow in Christmas in the city are less than 1%.

Miami has the third tallest skyline in the U.S. with over 300 high-rises. Much of the Miami's skyline was built with drug money.

In 2008 Miami was named the cleanest city in America.

In 1913, the bridge that connects Miami City to the Beach is finally finished and is awarded the title of being "the longest wagon bridge in the world".

Subtropical climate with year-round sunshine, Miami Beach is home to one of the largest snow skiing clubs in the United States.

Miami Beach was man made. Yes, sounds crazy but it is true, It was a coconut farm till just over 100 years ago. And because it is not exactly 'natural', the sand needs be replaced often. And it is because the diminished shoreline that the area is more vulnerable to hurricanes when big storms hit badly.

With over 15 million tourists visiting every year, Miami hotels are 4th in the national ranking.

The Port of Miami is well known as the Cruise Capital of the World and attend over five million passengers annually. In 1960 the Port of Miami, administered by the Dade County Seaport Commission, began and completed long-range development of a deepwater marine terminal in Biscayne Bay. It is the largest cruise ship port in the world and one of the nation's busiest cargo ports.

For those who visit Miami Beach, lost treasure awaits. Pirates such as Blackbeard and Gasparilla supposedly left many treasures behind in the nearby ocean. A lot of gold and silver have been found both on and off the land by those who have visited Miami Beach.

The Miami International Airport provides approximately one out of four jobs in the local economy. MIA is United States number one in cargo and second in number of passengers. Yet, to serve the visitors, nearly 10% of the Miami's workforce is employed by hotels and motels, restaurants, and recreational facilities.

Wherever where you are from, I believe at least once in your life you have used sun lotion. Believe or not, it was created early 40's in Miami. Later the formulation based in cocoa butter and coconut oil was named Coppertone.

The high temperature is a massive attraction to tourists and brought also many celebrities to move to the City. The most controversial was Al Capone who purchased a property here in 1929.

Miami is home to 2 of the 58 national parks in the US - Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. Also counts with more than 800 other parks.

The city is a world leader in marine study. Located there are the famed University of Miami-affiliated Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and oceanographic laboratories of NOAA.

The world's only Everglades Eco-System Is Located in Miami

In 1954 Burger King sold the first burger at 3090 N.W. 36th Street in Miami for 37 cents.

In 2004 the United Nations Development Programme ranked Miami first in terms of percentage of residents born outside of the country it is located in (59%). The ethnic makeup of the city is 34.1% Cuban, 19.2% African American, 5.7% Nicaraguan, 5.5% Haitian, and 3.3% Honduran.

Downtown Miami has the largest concentration of international banks in the United States, Miami also serves as the headquarters of Latin American operations for many multinational corporations.

A Latvian immigrant by the name of Edward Leedskalnin, by a love disappointment, built a coral rock construction known as the "Coral Castle". Dedicated to Agnes, her lost love, it took more than 30 years to complete it alone.

Research the laws in Miami Beach, and you just might find that having a hot dog stand can cost you a fine and jail time for up to 30 days. You can also go to jail for up to 30 days for selling oranges on the sidewalk.

Miami Police Department uses fixed microphones throughout the city and a special software to automatically pick up any gunshots and triangulate their origin to a couple of meters accuracy. Allowing them to immediately dispatch officers there.

Interesting facts and history that make Miami so unique.