Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León – who named it La Florida - "Flowery Land" upon landing there during the Easter season, Pascua Florida – Florida was a challenge for the European colonial powers before it gained statehood in the United States in 1845.
Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, and is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Some of its most iconic animals, such as the American alligator, crocodile, Florida panther and the manatee, can be found in the Everglades National Park.
Florida has attracted many writers such as Ernest Hemingway, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes. Florida is also known for its amusement parks, the production of oranges, and the Kennedy Space Center. It is internationally known for golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports.