Biscayne Bay, MiamiCentral Miami, Florida, on (left) Biscayne Bay.The downtown skyline of Miami features a contemporary look, with a large collection of gleaming glass-walled skyscrapers accented with neon lighting at night. The Brickell neighbourhood, just south of the city’s historic central business district, became one of Miami’s fastest-growing neighbourhoods and is the city’s major financial district. More than 70 percent of the population is Hispanic/Latino. Indeed, the city’s close relationship to Latin America is especially well represented in its ethnic neighbourhoods. The Little Hana district, just west of downtown, developed as a largely Cuban encle within the city. Its annual Calle Ocho festival (March; part of the Carnal Miami celebration) draws large crowds of visitors. Little Haiti, to the north of downtown, developed as a primarily Haitian neighbourhood after refugees began arriving in the city in the 1990s.
Port of MiamiCruise ship docked at the Port of Miami. Miami, Florida, is the main East Coast port for cruise ships heading to The Bahamas and the islands of the Caribbean. A tropical climate helps to make Miami one of America’s great winter resorts, and tourism is a major component of the city’s economy. The miles of shoreline are lined with glittering skyscraper hotels and are dotted with marinas, yacht clubs, and golf courses. The city is also a centre of international banking and finance, business services, manufacturing (including apparel, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, printing, and metal products) and international commerce. The Port of Miami handles international shipping and is a world leader in cruise ship operations. Miami International Airport also handles international cargo going mostly to Latin America and the Caribbean and is a major trel hub. The city is served by a highway network that includes the Dixie Highway, Tamiami Trail, and Florida’s Turnpike.
The Miami Seaquarium, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (1916; estate of industrialist James Deering), Bayside Marketplace, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, and Jungle Island (formerly Parrot Jungle and Gardens) are among the area’s many attractions. There are museums of history, art, and science, as well as several theatre, music, and dance organizations. Scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, and sportfishing are among the many popular outdoor activities, as are sailing regattas and fishing tournaments. Horse and greyhound racetracks and jai alai frontons offer pari-mutuel betting. The city is home to several professional sports teams, including the Miami Marlins (baseball), Miami Dolphins (football), and Miami Heat (basketball), and the annual Orange Bowl Festival (January) features a parade and college football game. Biscayne National Park is south of the city, and Everglades National Park is southwest.
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The Miami metropolitan area has many institutions of higher education, including the University of Miami (1925) in Coral Gables, Barry University (1940) in Miami Shores, St. Thomas University (1961), Florida Memorial College (1879), International Fine Arts College (1965), Miami-Dade Community College (1960), and Florida International University (1972), the site of the National Hurricane Center operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Jackson Memorial Hospital, Baptist Health, and the University of Miami Hospital are among the city’s major medical complexes. The city is a world leader in marine study. Located there are the famed University of Miami-affiliated Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and oceanographic laboratories of NOAA.