Fort Lauderdale, known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive and intricate canal system, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. According to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 185,804. It is the county seat of Broward County, and a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which is home to over 5,463,857 people.
The city is a popular tourist destination, with 10.35 million visitors in 2006. The city is a major yachting center, with 42,000 resident yachts and 100 marinas and boatyards. Fort Lauderdale and its suburbs host over 4100 restaurants and 120 nightclubs.
