When many people think of Florida, images of theme parks and sandy beaches come to mind. But you'll be surprised to discover that Coastal Florida is a world of natural wonder and mystery with extraordinary land and wildlife. Though much contributes to the diversity of ecosystems found here, latitude and elevation top the list. Florida straddles both the temperate and subtropical zones, allowing for a wide variety of plants and animals. And though much of the coast is flat and low-lying, just a few inches in elevation drastically affects what grows and lives there.