Miami and its suburbs are located on a broad plain between the Florida Everglades to the west and Biscayne Bay to the east, which also extends from Florida Bay north to Lake Okeechobee. The elevation of the area never rises above 40 ft (12 m) and averages at around 6 ft (1.8 m) above mean sea level in most neighborhoods, especially near the coast. The highest undulations are found along the coastal Miami Rock Ridge, whose substrate underlies most of the eastern Miami metropolitan region. The main portion of the city lies on the shores of Biscayne Bay which contains several hundred natural and artificially created barrier islands, the largest of which contains Miami Beach and South Beach. The Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current, runs northward just 15 miles (24 km) off the coast, allowing the city's climate to stay warm and mild all year. COUNT 5
QSN1 Where are the Everglades in relation to Miami? ANS1 east QSN2 To travel from Biscayne Bay to Miami, in what direction would one move? ANS2 west QSN3 What is the northern terminus of Biscayne Bay? ANS3 Lake Okeechobee QSN4 In kilometers, how far is the Gulf Stream from Miami's coast? ANS4 24 QSN5 In meters, what is the average height above sea level of the Miami area? ANS5 1.8