Fort Lauderdale, known as the \"Venice of America\" due to its expansive and intricate canal system, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. According to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 185,804. It is the county seat of Broward County. Fort Lauderdale is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area,
which is home to 5,463,857 people.

The city is a popular tourist destination, with 10.35 million visitors in 2006. The city is a major yachting center, with 42,000 resident yachts and 100 marinas and boatyards. Fort Lauderdale and its suburbs host over 4100 restaurants and 120 nightclubs.

Fort Lauderdale is named after a series of forts built by the United States during the Second Seminole War. However, development of the city did not begin until 50 years after the forts were abandoned at the end of the conflict. Three forts named \"Fort Lauderdale\" were constructed; the first was at the fork of the New River, the second at Tarpon Bend, in what is now known as the Sailboat Bend neighborhood, and the third near the site of the Bahia Mar Marina. The forts took their name from Major William Lauderdale, who was the commander of the detachment of soldiers who built the first fort.

Fort Lauderdale is located at 26°08′09″N, 80°08′31″W (26.135763, -80.141810).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.0 square miles (93.2 km²), 31.7 square miles (82.1 km²) of which is land and 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of which is water (11.91%). Fort Lauderdale is known for its extensive network of canals; there are 165 miles (266 km) of waterways within the city limits.

The city of Fort Lauderdale is adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, includes 7 miles (11 km) of beaches, and borders the following municipalities:

On its east:

* Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
* Sea Ranch Lakes

On its south:

* Hollywood
* Dania Beach

On its southwest:

* Davie

On its west:

* Plantation
* Lauderhill
* Lauderdale Lakes
* Cooper City

On its northwest:

* North Lauderdale
* Oakland Park

On its north:

* Wilton Manors
* Pompano Beach

The northwestern section of Fort Lauderdale is separate from the remainder of the city, connected only by the Cypress Creek Canal as it flows under I-95. This section of Fort Lauderdale borders the cities of Tamarac and Oakland Park on its south side. Oakland Park also borders Fort Lauderdale on the west side of its northeastern portion. The greater portion of Fort Lauderdale in the south is bordered, along its north side by Wilton Manors.

Off the coast of Fort Lauderdale is the Osborne Reef, an artificial reef made of discarded tires that has proven to be an ecological disaster. The dumping began in the 1960s, with the intent to provide habitat for fish while disposing of trash from the land. However, in the rugged and corrosive environment of the ocean, nylon straps used to secure the tires wore out, cables rusted, and tires broke free. The tires posed a particular threat after breaking free from their restraints. The tires then migrated shoreward and ran into a living reef tract, climbed up its slope and killed everything in their path. In recent years, thousands of tires have also washed up on nearby beaches, especially during hurricanes. Local authorities are now working to remove the 700,000 tires, in cooperation with the U.S. Army, Navy and Coast Guard.

Neighborhoods

Fort Lauderdale, unlike many cities, has an official program for designating and recognizing neighborhoods. Under the Neighborhood Organization Recognition Program, more than 60 distinct neighborhoods have received official recognition from the city. An additional 25–30 neighborhoods exist without official recognition, although the city\'s neighborhood map displays them as well.

Climate

Fort Lauderdale lies on the border between the Humid subtropical climate zone and the tropical Savannah climate zone, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. It has a two season wet-dry climate with hot, wet summers and cooler, dry winters. 69% of the city\'s annual rainfall occurs during the five month summer period. The hurricane season is between 1 June and 30 November, with major hurricanes most likely to affect Florida in September and October. The most recent storms to directly affect the city were Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma, both of which struck the city in 2005; other direct hits were Hurricane Cleo in 1965, Hurricane King in 1950 and the 1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane.

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