This map shows the counties that are included in the second definition of the Big Bend region of Florida.

The Big Bend of Florida, U.S.A., is an informal region of the state with no official surveyed boundary. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Geologists prefer to characterize Florida’s Big Bend as the drowned karst section of the coast that occurs between the Apalachicola Cuspate Delta and Southwest Florida’s Central Barrier Coast. Karst topography is a landscape shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble Bedrock, usually Carbonate rock such as Limestone ^[1][2][3] Perhaps the most culturally relevant definition of the Big Bend region is the section of west peninsular Florida’s coast without barrier islands-- the section from North Anclote Key (or the Anclote River) to Ocklocknee Bay, near Alligator Point. The straight line distance between these two geographic features is about 150 miles apart. Generally following the arc of the coast offshore, it is more like 200 miles.

An alternative definition more prevalent in Florida's panhandle includes the area around Apalachee Bay, an arm of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world It runs from Wakulla County on the west end through Jefferson, Taylor and Dixie counties to Levy County on the southeast end. Wakulla County is a County located in the US state of Florida. Jefferson County is a County located in the US state of Florida. Taylor County is a County located in the state of Florida. As of 2000 the population was 19256 Dixie County is a County located in the US state of Florida. As of 2000 the population was 13827 Levy County is a County located in the state of Florida. As of 2000 the population was 34450 ^[4] Common usage may also include Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty and Madison counties in the region. Franklin County is a coastal County located in the Panhandle of the U Gadsden County is a County located in the Panhandle of the US Leon County is a County located in the state of Florida. In 2000 its population was 239452 Liberty County is a County located in the state of Florida. Its current population was estimated in 2005 as 7733 Madison County is a County located in the state of Florida. As of 2000 the population was 18733 ^[5][6] The principal city in the region is Tallahassee.

References

1. ^ Williams, K. , Z. Pinzon, R. Stumpf, and E. Raabe. (1999), Sea-level Rise and Coastal Forests on the Gulf of Mexico. U. S. Geol. Surv. : Open-file Rept. 99-441. 87pp + app.
2. ^ A Photo Gallery of Florida's Big Bend Tidal Wetlands
3. ^ Status of Knowledge in Florida's Big Bend
4. ^ Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve - URL retrieved September 21, 2006
5. ^ Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region - URL retrieved September 21, 2006
6. ^ Big Bend Chapter of PAF - URL retrieved September 21, 2006