Michigan
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About Michigan
Michigan is a northern state in the United States with two separate peninsulas: the Lower Peninsula or "The Mitten" and the Upper Peninsula that is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac. The name is derived from Lake Michigan, one of the four Great Lakes. Next to Alaska Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the United States and numerous large islands. Large islands like the Manitou, Beaver, and Fox groups in Lake Michigan; the Isle Royale and Grande Isle in Lake Superior; Marquette, Bois Blanc, and Mackinac Islands in Lake Huron; and Nebish, Sugar, and Drummond Islands in St. Mary's River. The state has more than 11,000 inland lakes and no point in Michigan is more than 10 km away from one of them. Michigan’s white winter carpet is ideal for outdoor activities like skiing, showshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and dog sledding through Michigan's backcountry.
Good to know
- Capital: Lansing
- Climate: Michigan has a distinct four season climate that is greatly influenced by the Great Lakes, creating more humidity and heavy snowfall in winter.
- Timezone: UTC -6
- No. of inhabitants: 10,112,620 (2004)
- Travel alert: EnjoyYourWorld strongly advises you to take necessary precautions for a safe travel. For more info please follow this link
Highlights
- Isle Royale National Park, ideal for hiking and paddling on the lakes, is located close to Ontario and has numerous islands situated in the wilderness of northwest Lake Superior. Most visitors can get to Isle Royale via scheduled ferry services.
- In the Upper Peninsula, parks include the Taqhuamenon Falls, the Porcupine Mountains, and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge
- Keweenaw National Historical Park
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the southern shore of Lake Superior, known for its rugged coastline of sculpted rock formations and waterfalls
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with stunning views of Lake Michigan from some immense sand dunes
- Father Marquette National Memorial
- Detroit-the Motor City-one of the largest manufacturing cities in the U.S. and the centre of the automobile manufacturing industry
- A must see is the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, one of the world's most exciting collection of museums portraying the Industrial Revolution
- Mackinac Island-a resort island with late-19th-century character, situated in the Straits of Mackinac. The island does not allow private motor vehicles leaving bicycles and horse-drawn carriages as the primary methods of getting around
- The Huron National Forest
Getting Around
- Try some of the Michigan scenic byways that lead through its breathtaking landscapes
- Copper Country Trail-a stunning scenic journey on the Keweenaw Peninsula past picturesque wilderness and geological wonders. You can enjoy one of the best mineral collections at the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum
- River Road Scenic Byway along the Au Sable River
- Woodward Avenue (M-1) from the Detroit River in Detroit to the City of Pontiac
- Black River Scenic Byway-along five cascading waterfalls (the Great Conglomerate Falls, Potawatomi Falls, Gorge Falls Sandstone Falls and the Rainbow Falls), with campgrounds and miles of hiking and nature trails
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