Travel lovers should definitely visit the city of Tampa in Florida (USA). This settlement is the third largest in the above region, after Jacksonville and Miami. Its area is just over 440 km2. According to 2013 data, about 350 thousand people live here.
Where Tampa is located
Florida is the southern state of the USA, it is here, on the west coast of the peninsula, that Tampa is located. The city was founded in 1823. Geographically, the settlement belongs to Hillsborough County. By type of climate, this region is included in the tropical monsoon zone, where hot weather and high humidity prevail. The city is located on the coast of the bay of the same name. The maximum amount of precipitation falls in the summer.
Historical summary
The city was founded at the beginning of the 19th century. But the first European set foot on these lands much earlier - in 1528, almost 300 years before the creation of Tampa. The pioneer is considered a certain Panfilo de Narvaez - a conquistador from Spain. Howeverhis expedition was a fiasco. Of the entire team, only one person survived. He owes his salvation to Hernando de Soto, who arrived on these lands a year later. A fort was named after Hernando in the city of Tampa, as well as a park located in the Gulf of Mexico.
Creation of the city and its development
In 1821, the Spanish sold the Florida peninsula to the United States. The main purpose of the acquisition was:
- The US government, thus, tried to reduce the number of raids by Indian tribes on their possessions.
- It was possible to eliminate the shelters of runaway slaves who tried to hide in Florida from the wrath of slave owners from the southern states.
Until 1849, Tampa was a fort, after which it received the status of a village. About 200 people lived in this settlement at that time. Until the mid-80s of the 19th century, there were no prospects for its development. Tampa was kind of a fishing village. Road connections to other settlements in the region were very poor. The infrastructure is underdeveloped, industrial facilities were completely absent. The low population growth was due to the yellow fever epidemic. The carriers of the disease were mosquitoes that lived in the swamps located nearby.
The economic development of the city of Tampa began in 1883, after phosphate reserves were found in the region. This mineral was widely used in the production of fertilizers. Over time, Tampa has become one of the largest suppliers of phosphate. Soas the city is located on the coast of the ocean, the transportation of natural fertilizers was carried out through the port, which also had a positive effect on the economy of the region.
After a while, a railroad was built connecting this settlement with other cities in America. These conditions have significantly improved the economic component. Trade picked up and more people settled in Tampa.
Subsequently, more and more industrial facilities began to appear. So in 1885, American businessman Vicente Martinez Ybor, who was of Spanish origin, opened a cigar factory in Tampa. Raw materials were delivered to the port from Cuba, and the finished goods were transported by rail to other regions of the United States. The development of the industry led to the growth of the city. The population grew rapidly, a large number of visitors were from Cuba and South America. By the beginning of the 20th century, the city of Tampa in the United States became one of the largest settlements in Florida, and also received the status of "Cigar Capital of the World".
Origin of the word
No one knows the exact meaning of the name "Tampa". It is known that this word came from the language of the indigenous inhabitants of this region - the Caluza Indian tribe. It is assumed that it meant "fiery sticks", which is probably what the local peoples called lightning.
There is one more suggestion. On maps compiled after 1695, a bay was indicated, which was called Tanpa. Since the Spanish colonists did not understand the language of the Indians well, they adopted the word "Tanpa"for marking the area. After some period of time, the name slightly changed to Tampa.
Climate features
The weather in this area is favorable for life. Despite the fact that the summer time is very hot, the thermometer does not exceed 37 degrees Celsius, while in neighboring areas this figure is much higher. Such climatic features are associated with the location of the city of Tampa. Proximity to the ocean is a deterrent to rising temperatures. The greatest amount of precipitation falls precisely in the summer.
Winter in this region is very warm and dry. The average January temperature is just over 21°C. Freezing is a rare occurrence. Daytime temperature in winter ranges from 20-25 °С, at night it is 10-15 °С.
Tropical air masses cause the formation of hurricanes that hit the Florida peninsula almost every year. However, they pass Tampa by the side. The last time the elements affected the city in 1921.
Interesting places
If you are in doubt about whether to go here, take a look at the photo of the city of Tampa, there is something to see here. Every traveler will find something interesting for themselves. The tourist infrastructure of the city is very developed. Hotels, bars, restaurants and nightclubs sprawl along the coastline. There is a wide variety of entertainment complexes. The cost of rest is much lower than in Miami. In Tampa every yearconcerts and various festivals are held, you can visit numerous sporting events.
Traveling in Florida is primarily associated with the sea. There are several great beaches in the Tampa area that will satisfy the needs of tourists:
- Clearwater. Sandy beach located near the city. The shore and the seabed are covered with sand. Vacationers can rent umbrellas and sun loungers, there are also palm trees on the beach, in the shade of which you can hide from the sun.
- St. Pete Beach. Let's just say that this is not the best beach in Florida, but it deserves attention. Its northern part is fairly built up with high-rise buildings, but in the south there are plenty of plots suitable for summer recreation. The bottom and coastal zone is covered with sand.
- Honeymoon Island. The beach is part of the national park area. However, not the entire coastal zone is suitable for recreation. There are many areas covered with sand, but most of the coast is damaged by erosion.
- Fort de Soto Park. This beach is located in a protected area, in the western part of the peninsula. Here you can watch flocks of birds. There is also a picnic area and a dog beach.
- Caladesi. This beach is located on the island of the same name, which is located in the Gulf of Mexico, near the city of Tampa. This area belongs to the national park.
Tourists can visit the local zoo, which contains about 2 thousand different species of animals. Also on its territory there is a terrarium, where visitors are represented by numerous representatives of amphibians andreptiles.
Another interesting place is the aquarium. It contains numerous inhabitants of the depths (more than 20 thousand species): mammals, fish, turtles, aquatic plants. Here you can see electric rays, rare sharks, etc.
City attractions
There are quite a few places to visit in Tampa. Consider the most famous sights of the city:
- Ybor City. This is one of the oldest districts in the city. A large number of enterprises engaged in the production of cigars were concentrated here. Over time, many buildings fell into disrepair. Modern skyscrapers now flaunt in their place. There is a Cigar Museum in the area.
- Science and Industrial Museum. It will be especially interesting for children. Visitors can participate in various experiments, get information about new scientific achievements. Those who wish can experience the effects of a hurricane. The total number of exposures is over 450.
- Busch Gardens. Great place for entertainment. The park has a zoo, rides and playgrounds for children. The landscape of the park area is very interesting and diverse.
- Adventure Island water park. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is no better place to be found. There are high slides with pools, as well as areas for recreation with small children. The park has many plants and trees that give it a special charm.
Believe me, when you come to the city of Tampa Bay, you will not have to sit in your room, there are many places,Where to have a great time: Museum of Art, Bush Gardens, Hillsborough Nature Reserve, mock African Serengeti Park, etc.
