Nava Law Group, P.C.

. (26.1) 81.1 The geology of South Florida together with a warm wet subtropical climate provides conditions well-suited for a large marshland ecosystem Layers of porous and permeable limestone create water-bearing rock and soil that affect the climate weather and hydrology of South Florida the properties of the rock underneath the Everglades can be explained by the geologic history of the state the crust underneath Florida was at one point part of the African region of the supercontinent Gondwana About 300 million years ago North America merged with Africa connecting Florida with North America Volcanic activity centered on the eastern side of Florida covered the prevalent sedimentary rock with igneous rock Continental rifting began to separate North America from Gondwana about 180 million years ago When Florida was part of Africa it was initially above water but during the cooler Jurassic Period the Florida Platform became a shallow marine environment in which sedimentary rocks were deposited Through the Cretaceous Period most of Florida remained a tropical sea floor of varying depths the peninsula has been covered by seawater at least seven times since the bedrock formed, 6.4 Growth of urban areas, Railroad access The metropolitan areas of Miami Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach are located on a rise in elevation along the eastern coast of Florida called the Eastern Coastal Ridge that was formed as waves compressed ooids into a single formation Along the western border of the Big Cypress Swamp is the Immokolee Ridge (or Immokolee Rise) a slight rise of compressed sand that divides the runoff between the Caloosahatchee River and the Big Cypress This slight rise in elevation on both sides of the Everglades creates a basin and forces water that overflows Lake Okeechobee to creep toward the southwest Under both the Miami Limestone formation and the Fort Thompson limestone lies the Biscayne Aquifer a surface aquifer that serves as the Miami metropolitan area's fresh water source Rainfall and stored water in the Everglades replenish the Biscayne Aquifer directly.

In 2010 more than 63% of state voters approved the initiated Amendments 5 and 6 to the state constitution to ensure more fairness in districting These have become known as the Fair District Amendments As a result of the 2010 United States Census Florida gained two House of Representative seats in 2012 the legislature issued revised congressional districts in 2012 which were immediately challenged in court by supporters of the above amendments, An alligator in the Florida Everglades, Tropical hardwood hammock Marlins Park home of the Miami Marlins of the MLB. Following this period of rapid development and environmental degradation the ecosystem began to receive notable attention from conservation groups in the 1970s Internationally UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention designated the Everglades a Wetland Area of Global Importance the construction of a large airport 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Everglades National Park was blocked when an environmental study found that it would severely damage the South Florida ecosystem With heightened awareness and appreciation of the region restoration began in the 1980s with the removal of a canal that had straightened the Kissimmee River However development and sustainability concerns have remained pertinent in the region the deterioration of the Everglades including poor water quality in Lake Okeechobee was linked to the diminishing quality of life in South Florida's urban areas in 2000 the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan was approved by Congress to combat these problems to date,[when?] it is the most expensive and comprehensive environmental restoration attempt in history but its implementation has faced political complications. .