Michigan Cities and Towns
The Wolverine State  26th State

Climate & Weather:

Michigan has four distinct seasons with activities and attractions suited to each. Though it has heavy snowfall in places, the Great Lakes tend to  moderate the temperatures of the surrounding land, cooling the summers and warming the winters. This results in a milder climate in portions of the basin compared to other locations of similar latitude. The lakes also act as a giant humidifier, increasing the moisture content of the air throughout the year. In the winter, this moisture condenses as snow when it reaches the land, creating heavy snowfall in some areas, known as "snow belts" on the downwind shores of the lakes. The shores of Lake Superior are prone to this "lake effect" snow and have recorded up to 350 inches of snow in a single year. During the winter, the temperature of the lakes continues to drop. Ice frequently covers Lake Erie but seldom fully covers the other lakes. The lake breezes also make the shore areas (along Lake Michigan, in particular) several degrees cooler in summer. In most years, winter-sports enthusiasts will find plenty of snow in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula from mid November through March.

Accumulations of 120-170 in/305-432 cm are common. Temperatures usually drop below 0 F/-18 C once or twice each winter, but the average January temperature ranges 6 to 32 F/-15 to 0 C. In spring, expect temperatures from the mid 30s to the mid 60s F/2-17 C. Summer offers temperatures on the average 47-83 F/8-27 C. Humidity is occasionally uncomfortable, but the moderate temperatures usually keep things from getting too extreme. Mid September to late October offers  temperatures running 41-62 F/5-16 C

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Firsts, Facts, Trivia:  

Almost 40 million pounds, 90%, of the nations lobster supply is caught off the coast of Michigan.  Michigan also produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country. 

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Featured Tourist Spots:

The Curious Kid's Museum  - The Curious Kids' Museum is a hands-on children's museum dedicated to stimulating the curiosity of children from 1-100 with educational exhibits and programs which challenge the senses and offer unique learning opportunities.

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Michigan History:

Following the prehistoric inhabitants, Michigan's residents were the tribal groups of Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi Native Americans. The first Europeans were the French and French- Canadians.  tienne Brul of France, arrived in 1618 and named the region New France. In 1634, Jean Nicolet explored parts of the Upper Peninsula for France. Missionaries arrived and established a mission at Keweenaw Way in 1660. In 1668, Father Jacques Marquette established the first permanent settlement of Michigan at Sault Sainte Marie.

France was ousted from the territory by Great Britain in 1763, following the French and Indian Wars., and England controlled most French claims in North America, including Michigan.  Chief Pontiac led the Ottawa Indians in attacking a number of forts this same year, killing many of the settlers.

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