Michigan (pronounced ) is a Midwestern state of the United States. It was named after Lake Michigan, the word 'Michigan' itself being a French derivative of the Ojibwe misshikama (read "mish-ih-GAH-muh"), meaning "big lake" (compare kitchikama, meaning "Great Lake" - pronounced "gitch-ih-GAH-ma," or "Gitchee-Gumee" as rendered by Longfellow).

Bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair, Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the United States, the longest total shoreline after Alaska (including island shorelines)"Does Michigan have the longest coast line in the United States?" Michigan.gov, and more recreational boats than any other state in the union. A person in Michigan is never more than 85 miles (137 km) from open Great Lakes water and is never more than 6 miles from a natural water source.

Michigan is the only bi-peninsular state. The Lower Peninsula of Michigan, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is sometimes dubbed "the Mitten," owing to its shape. When asked where in Michigan one comes from, a resident of the Lower Peninsula may often point to the corresponding part of his or her hand. The Upper Peninsula (U.P.) is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. The Upper Peninsula (whose residents are often called "Yoopers") is economically important for tourism and its natural resources.

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Purdue 31, Michigan 30 | 3rd quarter: Live blog: Purdue recovers onside kick, takes lead
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:02:00 -0500
Purdue followed a long TD drive with an onside kick. They recovered and after a 54-yard TD pass to Cortez Smith, now lead, 31-30, with 5:04 to play in the third.
MSU 35, Western Michigan 7 | 3rd quarter: Live blog: WMU gets on the board with long run
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:23:00 -0500
In the first play from scrimmage in the 2nd half, Brandon West ran 80 yards for the Broncos' first score. With 14:46 to play in the third, it's 35-7.
ROCHELLE RILEY: All off to college, and first year free!
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
Detroit's University Preparatory High School announced Friday that the school will pay ALL costs for each of the 124 students in the current senior class who meet the requirements of what it calls a hope contract to attend their first year of college.
U.S. stimulus money lights a fire that's warming the state
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
Just in time for winter, that big batch of federal money -- $243 million for Michigan over three years -- to help people with lower incomes cut heating and cooling bills is finally starting to flow.
Drew Sharp: U-M and MSU: Dreaming of Detroit
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
There's no escaping a date at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl for Michigan or Michigan State if both finish 6-6.
WWJ-TV's Carol Cain interviews Gov. Jennifer Granholm
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:46:00 -0500
WWJ-TV 's Michigan Matters host Carol Cain talks in-depth to Gov. Jennifer Granholm about Michigan's direction and her future plans. The show aired today on WWJ TV.

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