Fort Lauderdale is a city in the United States along the Atlantic Ocean in the state of Florida. It is Broward County´s seat and has a population estimated by the United States Census Bureau to be approximately 183,606 in 2007.

It is the main principal city of South Florida Metropolitan Area and is home to an estimated 5,413,212 residents. Fort Lauderdale is popular for tourists, with more than 10.35 million visitors in the year 2006.

Sometimes called the "Venice of America" due to its weaving and intricate expansive canal system, this city is known for its many yachting centers. About forty two thousand yachts and 100 and boatyards can be found here. Just twenty three miles north of Florida´s Miami, Fort Lauderdale has about 120 nightclubs and 4100 restaurants.

It is named such due to the building of a series of forts in the Second Seminole War by the United States. All the forts build were named after Major William Lauderdale who was the commander of the soldier detachment which built the fort.