Geography and Activities

• The terrain in Michigan is mostly flat with rolling hills and mountains up to 1,979 feet. Visitors can swim at the shore, climb 300-foot-tall sand dunes in the northwest part of the state and explore the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula, which is 90 percent forested and home to moose and deer. Activities range from skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding in winter to sailing, fishing and biking in summer. Sportsmen can hunt bear, deer, turkey and pheasant or fish for freshwater trout and salmon. On historic Mackinac Island, located between the lower and upper peninsulas, cars are prohibited. Vacationers can view the island's Victorian architecture and 18th-century fort by foot, bicycle or horse-drawn carriage.
  
  

Famous Ties

• Michigan's largest city is Detroit, nicknamed the Motor City for its history as a center for automobile manufacturing. Henry Ford built his first car in Detroit and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, offers a look at historic innovation and inventions in America. The Motown Museum in downtown Detroit honors stars like Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and other singers launched by record producer Berry Gordy. The Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids is home to the library and grave of the 38th president of the United States.
  
  

Significance

• Tourism in Michigan raises $900 million in state tax revenue each year and provides 200,000 jobs. Most tourists come from within the state. About 20 percent of visitors to Michigan visit from nearby states and Ontario, according to the Michigan Tourism Strategic Plan.
  
  

Fun Facts

• Michigan has more shoreline than any state except Alaska.Lake Michigan Beach image by Keith Biros from Fotolia.com
  
  The state motto is "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice" or "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." Visitors to Michigan are never more than six miles from a lake or stream, according to the State of Michigan Kids website.