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Michigan...
the state we call home is rich in both beauty and natural resources. Here
we can hunt, fish in the waters of our Great Lakes, inland lakes, streams
and rivers, ski and snowmobile through pine forests, hike, camp, watch
wildlife and enjoy many other outdoor activities.
The
name Michigan comes from the Chippewa word Michigama
and means "Big Water". Since Michigan is surrounded
by four of the five Great Lakes, it is a fitting name.
Michigan is made up of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula
is shaped like a large mitten, reaching north to the
top of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Shaped like a bird
with wings spread, the Upper Peninsula separates Lake
Superior on the north from Lake Michigan on the south.
The five-mile long Mackinac Bridge spans the Straits
of Mackinac to connect Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas.
In
land
and water area combined, Michigan is the largest state
east of the Mississippi and ranks tenth in the nation.
Its area includes 57,000 square miles of land area and
38,769 square miles of water surface.
Michigan
is the automotive capital of the world.
Michigan
has more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000
miles of streams.
Michigan
ranks fifth or higher in production of more than 20 major food crops,
although ranking only 22nd in land area.
Michigan
was the first to establish roadside picnic tables.
Three
of America's top five industrial corporations and 23
of its top 500 businesses are headquartered in Michigan.
In
Michigan you are never more than six miles from a lake
or stream.
Big
Mac, arching five miles over the Straits of Mackinac to connect the Upper
and Lower Peninsulas, is one of the world's great bridges.
Michigan
leads the nation in number of state parks and prepared campsites.
Michigan
has 96 state parks, three national forests and more
than 150 municipal camping parks. Altogether it has
more than 156,000 prepared campsites.
Michigan
has a greater variety of minerals - metallic and non-metallic than any
area of comparable size in the world.
Michigan's
public roads and streets would go around the equator more than four times.
Interlochen
is one of the world's greatest centers of youth talent and training in
the arts.
Michigan's
land area is larger than Greece and nearly five times the size of Belgium.
Over
two thousand Michigan companies engage in world trade.
Stand
anywhere in Michigan and you are within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes.
Michigan
is the hub of the rich Great Lakes industrial market area. Over 70 million
consumers are within 500 miles of Michigan's capital.
Michigan
State University at East Lansing was the first land grant college.
Four
flags have flown over Michigan: French, English, Spanish, and United States.
Michigan
ranks first in the 19 manufacturing categories including motor vehicles
and cereals.
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