Michigan [MI] - USA

Michigan is a state in the northern United States and consists of two major land masses, the Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula, which are surrounded by several of the Great Lakes. The state borders Ohio and Indiana to the south and Wisconsin to the west. The waterways have been important for trade, transportation, and settlement patterns. The population is concentrated in urban areas in the southern part of the state, where Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Ann Arbor are significant centers for administration, industry, education, and the service sector. Michigan has a historically extensive automotive industry that still has economic importance, supplemented by manufacturing, engineering, agriculture, and tourism. The climate varies depending on the proximity to the Great Lakes, with clear seasons and differences between inland and coastal areas. The state has several universities and research institutions as well as a developed network of roads, railroads, and airports. Natural and open-air areas are scattered throughout both peninsulas and are used for recreation and the study of the environment and ecosystems.