Alternative Text Description for USACE Principal Ports

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Map Overview
• Geographic Context
• Key Insights
• Visual Elements
• Symbol Guide
• Additional Information
• Data Context

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays USACE Principal Ports located throughout the state of Florida. Principal Ports are major commercial shipping facilities defined by port limits or Corps projects and ranked among the top 150 ports nationally based on total tonnage. The map shows the geographic distribution of these significant maritime commerce hubs across Florida's extensive coastline.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida, extending from Dothan and Valdosta in the north to Miami in the south. Major cities labeled include Jacksonville on the northeast coast, Orlando in the central region, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west coast, and Miami on the southeast coast. Other labeled cities include Tallahassee, Gainesville, Palm Coast, Lakeland, Melbourne/Palm Bay, Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, and Coral Springs. The map shows Florida's distinctive peninsula shape, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Gulf of America to the west, and the Florida Keys extending southward. Portions of neighboring states and water bodies are visible in gray along the borders.

KEY INSIGHTS

Principal Ports are concentrated along Florida's coastal perimeters with a notable clustering in two primary regions: the Tampa Bay area on the west coast and the southeast coast from West Palm Beach to Miami. The distribution pattern reveals the strategic importance of Florida's geographic position with major ports serving both the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean maritime traffic routes. The interior of the state shows no principal ports, reflecting the concentration of major shipping infrastructure along deep-water coastal areas. This coastal-focused distribution demonstrates Florida's role as a critical maritime commerce gateway.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

USACE Principal Ports

This layer represents major commercial ports operated or maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in Florida.

USACE Principal Ports (ship/anchor icon symbol)

Appearance:

Black ship or anchor icon symbols marking port locations

Distribution:

Ports are distributed along Florida's entire coastline with concentrations on the west coast near Tampa/St. Petersburg, along the southeast coast, and scattered locations along the northeast coast and Gulf of America coast

Notable locations:

• Tampa Bay area: Three ports clustered in the St. Petersburg and Tampa vicinity
• Southeast coast: Multiple ports including locations near West Palm Beach, Coral Springs, and Miami
• Northeast coast: At least one port near Orlando (likely Port Canaveral area based on location)
• Northwest coast: Limited port representation visible in the Panhandle region

Spatial patterns:

Linear coastal distribution following Florida's shoreline, with clustering in major metropolitan areas where deep-water harbors and transportation infrastructure support high-tonnage commercial shipping operations

Overlapping Patterns

Not applicable - port symbols do not overlap on this map scale.

SYMBOL GUIDE

• Black ship/anchor icon: Represents a USACE Principal Port facility, indicating a major commercial port that ranks among the top 150 U.S. ports by total tonnage for calendar year 2022

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map displays only Principal Ports maintained or operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The designation as a "Principal Port" is based on annual tonnage rankings, meaning the specific ports included can vary from year to year based on shipping volumes. Smaller ports, recreational marinas, and facilities that do not meet the tonnage threshold for Principal Port designation are not shown on this map. The visible symbols represent facilities handling both domestic and foreign cargo including imports and exports.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

Data is sourced from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). The dataset reflects calendar year 2022 data and was last updated in July 2024. Data source layer name: PRINCIPAL_PORTS_JUL24.

Definition Query:

Not specified. This map appears to display all Principal Ports within Florida boundaries without additional filtering.

Scale Information:

The map displays Florida at a statewide scale suitable for understanding the overall distribution pattern of Principal Ports across the state. Individual port facility details are not visible at this scale.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

Data represents Principal Ports status as of calendar year 2022, with the dataset updated in July 2024.

Limitations:

The Principal Port designation is based on annual tonnage rankings and may change from year to year. Ports that fall below the top 150 national ranking are not included. The map does not show smaller ports, private facilities, or recreational marinas. Geographic locations represent port facilities but do not delineate specific port boundaries or the full extent of Corps projects associated with each port.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the entire state of Florida including the mainland peninsula and the Florida Keys. Adjacent areas of neighboring states and water bodies are shown in gray for geographic context but are not the focus of this dataset.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.