The city's name is derived from the Miami River which is ultimately derived from the Mayaimi people who lived in the area at the time of European colonization. .
Fluctuating sea levels compressed numerous layers of calcium carbonate sand and shells the resulting permeable limestone formations that developed between 25 million and 70 million years ago created the Floridan Aquifer which serves as the main source of fresh water for the northern portion of Florida However this aquifer lies beneath thousands of feet of impermeable sedimentary rock from Lake Okeechobee to the southern tip of the peninsula, Source: US Census The Miami Seaquarium is a marine park on Virginia Key that has one of the world's largest collections of marine animals; some 10,000 specimens Open in 1955 the 38-acre (150,000-square-metre) park provides marine life exhibits and several daily marine mammal shows It is famous for its captive orcas dolphins and sea lions Manatee and shark exhibits are also present. . There are four major projects related to PortMiami which are all scheduled to be ready by 2014: the expansion of the Panama Canal the PortMiami Deep Dredge Project the PortMiami Tunnel and the restoration of the bridge and rail line connecting the PortMiami to the mainland, WNBA Basketball player, North Florida 4 Transportation At the end of the third quarter of 2008 Florida had the highest mortgage delinquency rate in the U.S. with 7.8% of mortgages delinquent at least 60 days a 2009 list of national housing markets that were hard hit in the real estate crash included a disproportionate number in Florida the early 21st-century building boom left Florida with 300,000 vacant homes in 2009 according to state figures in 2009 the US Census Bureau estimated that Floridians spent an average 49.1% of personal income on housing-related costs the third highest percentage in the U.S. . . Green Library 1975 The Herald also co-sponsors spelling bees and athletic awards in South Florida.[citation needed]. .
The Registry on the Park