Did you know . . . ?

• Michigan is the “Great Lakes State.” It is the only U.S. state that touches four of the five Great Lakes.

• The Great Lakes are the largest body of freshwater in the world. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world (in surface area).

• The Great Lakes account for 20% of the world’s surface freshwater supply and account for 90% of all of the freshwater in the United States.

• The Great Lakes hold an estimated 6 quadrillion gallons of water. If the water was spread out evenly across the entire United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), the water would be over seven feet deep!

• Michigan has 35,000 inland lakes and ponds and more than 49,000 miles of rivers.

• With almost 946,000 registered boats in Michigan, our state residents own more watercraft than residents in most other states.

• The Great Lakes region is home to 20% of all the manufacturing in the United States and home to half of Canada’s manufacturing. Approximately 60% of the steel produced in North America is made in the Great Lakes region.

• On a daily basis, more ship traffic passes through the Soo Locks (between Lake Superior and Lake Huron) than through the Suez Canal, located in Egypt.

• Michigan has 3,288 miles of shoreline, the longest of any state (or Province) except for Alaska. Michigan is home to the longest stretch of freshwater dunes on Earth.

• Before Michigan became a state, it was almost completely (95%) forested. By the early 1900s, approximately 92% of Michigan’s trees were either cut for timber or destroyed. Today, forests cover about 50% of the state.

• Michigan’s state forest system totals 3.9 million acres and is one of the largest in the United States. Michigan produces about 1/5 of all of the Christmas trees in the United States.

• Millions of people visit Michigan’s State Parks and other public areas every year enjoying activities such as hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, wildlife watching, photography, boating, fishing, and hunting.

• Crystal Falls, Michigan, is “Home of the Humongous Fungus,” perhaps the world’s largest and oldest living organism.

• Michigan has a greater variety of minerals, both metallic and non-metallic, including copper, iron, limestone, dolomite, shale, salt, and gypsum, than any area of comparable size in the world.

• The Keweenaw Peninsula is the snow capital of the world. In the winter of 1978-79, 390.4 inches fell for a world record!

• Michigan farms produce more navy beans, tart cherries, blueberries, black turtle beans, and cranberry beans than any other state!