michigan The Great Lakes State BY JOHN HAMILTON Abdo Daughters An imprint of Abdo Publishing abdopublishing com
michigan THE GREAT LAKES STATE Michigan is thousands of miles from either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans and yet it is a boater’s paradise That is because it is nearly surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes Michigan has more freshwater coastline than any other state It also has the most lighthouses Early in Michigan’s history fur traders made fortunes thanks to the state’s lakes and rivers Today massive ships carrying millions of tons of iron ore steel products coal grains and other bulk cargo pass through the busy locks of Sault Ste Marie and the Straits of Mackinac on their way to industrial centers like Detroit Michigan is well known for making cars and for the soul-pop sound of Detroit’s Motown bands But it is also famous for its natural beauty from lofty sand dunes and sparkling trout streams to millions of acres of wildlife-filled forests A sailboat glides past Holland Harbor Light better known as Big Red It is one of Michigan’s most popular lighthouses 4 MICHIGAN
