U.S. State Meaning "Great Waters": Michigan

Etymology

Michigan comes from the Ojibwe word mishigamaa, meaning "great water" or "large lake."

Geographic Fit

• Borders four Great Lakes: Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie.
• Longest freshwater coastline in the U.S. (~3,200 miles).
• Over 11,000 inland lakes.

Name History

French explorers adopted the Ojibwe term as "Michigania"; later became the territory and state name.