Florida’s unique status as a large, low-lying peninsula situated between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean fundamentally shapes its natural wealth. Resources range from deep underground minerals to extensive biological habitats and vast water systems. This distinct geography creates a profile of resources that is diverse and highly sensitive to environmental change. The combination of a subtropical climate and the state’s geological foundation dictates which resources are abundant and how they are utilized by its economy and population.
Hydrological Resources and Water Systems
Florida’s most significant resource is its water, managed through one of the world’s most productive aquifer systems. The Floridan Aquifer System underlies the entire state and parts of three neighboring states, supplying fresh water to nearly 10 million people. The Upper Floridan aquifer is the primary source for public drinking water and agricultural irrigation across much of North and Central Florida. Its limestone structure creates a karst landscape, leading to the natural discharge of groundwater through an estimated 1,000 springs, including 33 first-magnitude springs.
The quality of this freshwater supply is a constant management challenge due to the aquifer’s proximity to the surface. In South Florida, the Upper Floridan aquifer becomes deeper and contains brackish water, limiting its use for direct consumption. Surface water systems are equally important, including the Kissimmee River, which historically meandered into Lake Okeechobee.
Lake Okeechobee, the state’s largest freshwater lake, once overflowed its southern edge to create the Everglades, a vast, slow-moving sheet of water sometimes called the “River of Grass.” This expansive system replenishes the shallower Biscayne Aquifer, the main source of drinking water for the southeast coast. Water management efforts focus on balancing the needs of the population and agriculture with the natural flow and quality requirements of these interconnected surface and subsurface systems.
Geological and Mineral Assets
The non-renewable resources extracted from Florida’s subsurface are primarily industrial minerals, with phosphate being the most economically significant. Florida is the leading producer of phosphate rock in the United States, securing over 70 percent of the nation’s supply. This material is mined primarily in the Central Florida region, known as the “Bone Valley.” Phosphate is processed into phosphoric acid and various salts, primarily used in the manufacture of agricultural fertilizers.
Limestone is the other major geological asset, quarried extensively across the state and forming the bedrock for much of the peninsula. This sedimentary rock is used as a foundational material in construction, road building, and cement production. Other industrial minerals extracted include sand and gravel for construction aggregate. Heavy mineral sands, which contain titanium and zirconium ores, are also mined.
Biological and Terrestrial Ecosystems
Florida’s landmass supports a wealth of renewable, living resources, rooted in diverse soil compositions and a subtropical climate. Nearly half of the state’s land area is covered by forests, providing timber and pulpwood products from state forests and private holdings. The extensive pine flatwoods are a widespread ecosystem whose health often relies on natural fire cycles for maintenance and renewal.
The unique climate and soil also support a high-value agricultural industry. Citrus, the state’s signature crop, is grown mainly on the central ridge where well-drained, sandy soils predominate. These soils necessitate frequent irrigation and careful nutrient management due to their low capacity to hold water.
The state leads the country in sugarcane production, centered on the Everglades Agricultural Area near Lake Okeechobee. This production relies heavily on the highly fertile, dark organic “muck soils” formed from decomposed wetland vegetation. The livestock sector is also a major land user, with a large cattle industry operating across vast rangelands.
Coastal and Marine Wealth
Florida’s extensive shoreline is a source of abundant marine and coastal resources. The physical resource of sandy beaches is paramount, serving as the foundation for the state’s dominant tourism industry and providing a natural defense against storm surge and erosion. These coastal areas also support a highly valuable commercial and recreational fishing industry.
The total direct sales from commercial and recreational fisheries amount to $28 billion annually, making Florida a national leader in this sector. Offshore, the Florida Reef Tract is the largest living coral reef system in North America. This complex ecosystem attracts millions of visitors annually, generating billions of dollars in economic activity. Coastal ecosystems like mangrove forests act as nurseries for numerous species of finfish and shellfish, supporting these fisheries and providing shoreline stabilization.