BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON MICHIGAN Michigan is an important industrial, farming, tourist, and mining state in the Great Lakes region of the United States. It is one of the nation's leading manufacturing states. Michigan leads in the manufacture of automobiles. Detroit, Michigan's largest city, is called the Automobile Capital of the World and the Motor City. The Detroit area produces more cars and trucks than any other part of the nation. Flint and Lansing also are important automaking centers. Michigan is a leader in food processing and steel production. Service industries, such as health care and retail trade, employ many people in the state. Lansing is the state capital. Michigan touches four of the five Great Lakes—Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior. The state's 3,288-mile (5,292-kilometer) shoreline is longer than that of any other state except Alaska. Michigan consists of two separate land areas, called the Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula. The two peninsulas are connected by the Mackinac Bridge, which spans 5 miles (8 kilometers) across the Straits of Mackinac. Most farming in Michigan takes place in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Extensive areas of the Lower Peninsula near the shore of Lake Michigan are excellent for fruit growing. Michigan is among the leading states in growing apples, cherries, and many other fruits. Michigan is one of the leading tourist states. About 22 million people visit the state each year. Both the Upper and Lower peninsulas offer resort and recreation facilities, and scenic beauty. In addition to the Great Lakes, Michigan has more than 11,000 smaller lakes. Forests cover over half the state. Michigan offers excellent hunting and fishing opportunities for sport enthusiasts. Michigan is second only to Minnesota in iron ore production. Iron ore is mined in the Upper Peninsula. The state's other chief mineral products, natural gas and petroleum, are found in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula. Michigan is also an important producer of sand and gravel, crushed stone, and salt. French explorers of the early 1600's were the first Europeans to visit what is now Michigan. France controlled the region for nearly 150 years, but did little to develop it. The United Kingdom gained control of the Michigan region after defeating France in the French and Indian Wars (1689-1763). In 1787, after the Revolutionary War in America, the area became part of the Northwest Territory of the United States. In 1805, Congress established the Territory of Michigan. In 1837, Michigan became the 26th state.  The name Michigan comes from the Chippewa Indian word Michigama, which means great, or large, lake. Michigan is nicknamed the Wolverine State because the early fur traders brought valuable wolverine pelts to trading posts in the region. The state is also known as the Water Wonderland, because of its many beautiful lakes and streams. Including its share of the Great Lakes, Michigan has more fresh water than any other state. The Upper Peninsula is sometimes called the Land of Hiawatha because that part of the state is described in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem The Song of Hiawatha (1855).