<P> The biggest recent growth in the city was the development of New Tampa, which started in 1988 when the city annexed a mostly rural area of 24 square miles (62 km) between I - 275 and I - 75 . </P> <P> East Tampa, historically a mostly black community, was the scene of several race riots during and for some time after the period of racial segregation, mainly due to problems between residents and the Tampa Police Department . </P> <P> According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 175.3 square miles (453.9 km), including 113.4 square miles (293.7 km) of land and 61.8 square miles (160.1 km) (35.3%) of water . The highest point in the city is only 48 feet (15 m) above sea level . Tampa is bordered by two bodies of water, Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay, which flow together to form Tampa Bay, which in turn flows into the Gulf of Mexico . The Hillsborough River flows into Hillsborough Bay, passing directly in front of Downtown Tampa and supplying Tampa's main source of fresh water . The Palm River is a smaller river flowing from just east of the city into McKay Bay, which is a smaller inlet, sited at the northeast end of Hillsborough Bay . Tampa's geography is marked by the Interbay Peninsula which divides Hillsborough Bay (the eastern) from Old Tampa Bay (the western). </P> <P> The Tampa Bay area has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) zone, although due to its location on the Florida peninsula on Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it shows some characteristics of a tropical climate . Tampa's climate generally features hot summers with frequent thunderstorms and dry and mild winters . Average highs range from 70 to 90 ° F (21 to 32 ° C) year round, and lows 52 to 76 ° F (11 to 24 ° C). </P>

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