Miami is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It’s renowned for its sunny weather and beautiful beaches.
The city is a major centre of the Latin American community in Florida and was named The Gateway to the Americas for its strong ties to the region.
History
When Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1513, the area had been inhabited by Indians for more than a thousand years. They called it Mayaimi, which translates to “big water.”
The Europeans took over Miami in the late 18th century, when the United States acquired Florida from Spain. Fort Dallas was built near the Miami River in 1836, and a few settlers started to settle.
A real estate boom occurred during the 1920s, leading to the development of hotels, shops and nightclubs in Miami. The city became a popular destination for winter vacationers, especially from the Northeast and Midwest regions of the country.
World War II brought many military men and women to Miami, which helped boost the city’s population. It also played an important role in the battle against German submarines. Fidel Castro’s 1959 takeover of Cuba encouraged large-scale immigration from the island, which increased the population even further.
Climate
Miami is one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations. Due to its tropical climate, the weather is pleasant practically all year round and there is a wide variety of activities to choose from.
However, the city does experience some rain and thunderstorms in the summer, albeit less frequently than other places. These storms can be powerful, with hurricane-force winds and heavy rain.
The tropical climate of Miami is characterized by hot and humid summers and short, warm winters. It is shaped by its sea-level elevation, coastal location, position just above the Tropic of Cancer, and proximity to the Gulf Stream.
The climate of Miami is classified as tropical, according to the Koppen climate classification. In the summer, the temperature is sultry and humid, with high risks of hurricanes. In the winter, the climate is mild and sunny with very little precipitation.
Language
Miami is a city that’s incredibly rich in culture and language. Cuban immigrants flooded the city in the early 1960s, and since then Spanish has become an important part of life here.
Sociolinguist Phillip Carter at Florida International University has conducted extensive research on Latino-English dialects in Texas and North Carolina, but when he started doing research in Miami he found that the local pronunciation was unlike any other.
“Miami English” isn’t an accent, according to Carter; it’s a native English dialect, similar to New York City and Southern American English. It incorporates a rhythm and pronunciation that are heavily influenced by Spanish, whose rhythm is syllable-timed.
The Miami English pronunciation has evolved into a unique little linguistic island that’s utterly charming and strange at the same time. You can see this everyday, when men in suits order cafecitos and huevos on Brickell Avenue before heading to their jobs; or when young professionals banter in their parents’ native tongues at outdoor Wynwood bars.
Skyline
Miami’s skyline is a sight to behold. A mix of tall condos, office buildings and hotels make for a colorful metropolis that is known for its cruise ships, tourism and vibrant culture.
The city has had a long history of high-rise construction. The Freedom Tower, built in 1925, is one of Miami’s best-known early skyscrapers.
However, the city has been on a building boom since the mid-1990s, with some of the tallest towers in the country being built here. This boom peaked around 2008 and ended abruptly when the real estate market crashed, but the boom has been making a comeback.
This list ranks the most impressive buildings in Miami that rise at least 400 feet (122 m). It is not an exhaustive list, but includes some of the sexiest structures in the city, based on the most relevant criteria.