Michigan

Michigan is a state in the United States. The name is derived from Lake Michigan, which in turn is believed to come from the Chippewa Indian word meicigama, meaning "great water." Bounded by four of the Great Lakes, Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the continental United States, the longest total shoreline after Alaska (including island shorelines http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29938_30243-103397--,00.html), and more recreational boats than any other state in the union.

Miscellaneous information

Michigan is simultaneously known for its cities, supported by heavy industry, and its pristine wilderness, home to more than 11,000 lakes. The clang and clamor of metro Detroit's crowded thoroughfares and busy factories stand in vivid counterpoint to the tranquility found in virtually every corner of the state.

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An individual from Michigan is called a "Michiganian" or "Michigander".http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54118--,00.html#michiganian A resident of Michigan's Upper Peninsula ("the U.P.") is often called a "Yooper" (or U.P.'er). In turn, residents of the lower peninsula may be jokingly referred to as "trolls" -- because they "live below the Mackinac Bridge." As the Lower Peninsula is famously shaped like a mitten, residents often use their left hand or right palm as a shorthand "map" to illustrate the part of the state from which they hail, or any other location to which they may be referring.

Related Topics:
Michigander - Yooper - Troll - Mackinac Bridge - Lower Peninsula

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Its U.S. postal abbreviation is "MI" (traditional: "Mich."). The U.S. Navy's three ships called USS Michigan were named in honor of the state. Michigan is nicknamed the "Great Lakes State", and also the "Wolverine State", from a nickname earned during the Toledo War.

Related Topics:
USS ''Michigan'' - Toledo War

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Michigan has over 130 lighthouses, the most of any U.S. state. The first lighthouses in Michigan were built between 1818 and 1822. They were built to project light at night and to serve as a landmark during the day to safely guide the passenger ships and freighters traveling the Great Lakes. See Lighthouses in the United States.

Related Topics:
Lighthouse - Lighthouses in the United States

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Michigan has the most registered boats (over 1 million) of any state in the Union.

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Michigan is home to the Soo Locks, the world's busiest lock system, and the Mackinac and Ambassador Bridges, each formerly the world's longest suspension bridge.

Related Topics:
Soo Locks - Mackinac - Ambassador Bridge

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Michigan's 2004 commemorative quarter featured the outline of the state and the surrounding lakes.

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Quick trivia

• State nicknames include the Wolverine State, Great Lakes State, Mitten State, and Winter Water Wonderland.
• The state motto, Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice is Latin for "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you", a paraphrase of a statement made by British architect Sir Christopher Wren about his influence on London.
• The state stone, the Petoskey stone (Hexagonaria pericarnata), is composed of fossilized coral from long ago when the middle of the continent was covered with a shallow sea.
• The state gem chlorastrolite, literally the green star stone, also known as the Isle Royale greenstone is found on Isle Royale and the Keweenaw peninsula.
• The state wildflower, the Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris lacustris), is a federal-listed threatened species.
• The state soil, Kalkaska Sand, ranges in color from black to yellowish brown, covers nearly a million acres (4,000 km²) in 29 counties.
• Michigan is the only state composed of two separate peninsulas.