Hello everyone— New Member from Michigan, U.S.

Chalkie said:
Welcome to the best (nicest) forum on this planet.

The folks on here are extremely pleasant. Very helpful and generous.

Jump in and tell us more about everything Michigan (is that in Illinois?)
Click to expand...
Two different states.

iu
 
It has been wonderful thusfar, Chalkie. I'm glad I joined.

Well let's see here, Michigan is the mitten shaped state just northeast of Illinois. You're close. Most of Illinois is sort of southwest of Michigan, and wraps underneath Lake Michigan. We have lots and lots of freshwater lakes and woodlands. We have a northern penninsula connected to the southern half of the state by a 5 mile long suspension bridge called "The Mackinaw Bridge". Our most famous lakes are called the "The Great Lakes" and contain roughly 20% of the entire world's freshwater. Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. We don't actually "own" all of them, they just happen to surround us on three sides, with Lake Erie and Lake Ontario connecting to the southern part of Lake Huron.

Lake Superior, in particular, is massive. It's an inland sea. It is also the coldest freshwater lake in the world, averaging around 40°F or 4°C. It can fit the entire UK inside it, because in addition to being massive in area, it's also over 1,300 feet deep. We have a healthy measure of respect and fear of her. The souls of at least 350 identified shipwrecks (500+ estimated) belong to her, and because the water stays so cold and the current so strong, she never gives up her dead.
 
Chalkie said:
Brings back memories of school days learning all about "the great lakes". Lots of places named after first nation tribes.
Click to expand...
That's very true, indeed. We have a strong connection with our first nation brothers and sisters. Even our state's name is from the Ojibwe word "Mishigami" meaning "big water".

However, there was a white geographer in the 19th century named Henry Schoolcraft, who took it upon himself to name many different surveyed counties in a way that sounded Native ("but more palatable"), and completely made up. Examples of those are, Oscoda, Algoma, Leelenau, Arenac, Kalkaska, Iosco, etc. Once you recognize his formula, it's pretty easy to look at a Michigan map and point out the Schoolcraftian names.
 
dodgy said:
Mackinac island fudge
Click to expand...
Their fudge and taffy are world famous! There are also lots of small, family owned business in the Upper Penninsula that specialize in pasties and smoked fish, thanks to our Finnish and Scandinavian immigrant population from the mining and logging days. There is also a significant population of miners who immigrated from Ireland and Cornwall too.

The Keweenaw penninsula (the northerwestern tip of the Upper Penninsula) is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It is home to the Estivant Pines Nature Preserve which contains white pines that are 6 feet in diameter and over 150 feet tall. I hiked through it last summer, and it nearly brought me to tears with it's magnificence.

I am grateful and proud to call Michigan my home, and I appreciate the interest from you guys in hearing about it.
 
LaVirutaClásico87 said:
It has been wonderful thusfar, Chalkie. I'm glad I joined.

Well let's see here, Michigan is the mitten shaped state just northeast of Illinois. You're close. Most of Illinois is sort of southwest of Michigan, and wraps underneath Lake Michigan. We have lots and lots of freshwater lakes and woodlands. We have a northern penninsula connected to the southern half of the state by a 5 mile long suspension bridge called "The Mackinaw Bridge". Our most famous lakes are called the "The Great Lakes" and contain roughly 20% of the entire world's freshwater. Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. We don't actually "own" all of them, they just happen to surround us on three sides, with Lake Erie and Lake Ontario connecting to the southern part of Lake Huron.

Lake Superior, in particular, is massive. It's an inland sea. It is also the coldest freshwater lake in the world, averaging around 40°F or 4°C. It can fit the entire UK inside it, because in addition to being massive in area, it's also over 1,300 feet deep. We have a healthy measure of respect and fear of her. The souls of at least 350 identified shipwrecks (500+ estimated) belong to her, and because the water stays so cold and the current so strong, she never gives up her dead.
Click to expand...
Not to nit pick but I believe Lake Baikal is colder. It’s certainly bigger, deeper, etc. Of course, I’m often wrong…

Anyway:

One Of Us GIF by MOODMAN
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom