Of all fifty states in the United States of America, one always stands out the most to just about everyone. That state being Michigan, becoming a state on January 26, 1837, it’s always played a key role in the history of the United States of America and the entire world.

Michigan is a very unique state that has the most freshwater in the entire world. Bordering 4 oceans of fresh water, known as the Great Lakes, having over 11,000 inland lakes and 300 named rivers according to USGS (United States Geological Survey). It is a very “moist and highly saturated state” according to local fisherman Ronnie Savage.

Not only is Michigan the best-looking state but it’s made a huge impact on the United States, as well as the entire world. Allowing world economies to flourish, things that could never be achieved in the past are now possible and is credited by Preston Paisley as “a place that changed the entire world.” Many agree the main factor to Michigan’s huge impact on the world is how it changed the auto industry, providing the world with new means of transportation.

Even today, Michigan still hosts the International Auto Show, where people from all over the world gather to show off the latest and greatest of automotive engineering. Major auto manufacturers from all over the world, such as General Motors, Ford, Mercedes, and over 30 more all meet to show the world tomorrow’s vehicles.

Recently, Michigan also legalized marijuana under proposal 1, which is considered by Senior Sam Colone as “a huge step in the right direction” and in his opinion makes the state that much better.

The upper peninsula is also an amazing part of this great state, helping draw about 122 million tourists to Michigan in 2017, according to MEDC. Additionally, due to the very small amount of light pollution and the hundreds of miles of shoreline down Lake Superior, it is one of the few states you can very clearly see the northern lights. The upper peninsula is considered by many Michiganders as one of the best places in the state.

When Michigan first became a state, the upper peninsula was not a territory of Michigan. It wasn’t until June 1836 when a dispute between the great state of Michigan and Ohio over the Toledo strip became too violent and the US federal government had to step in. This land dispute between the states lasted a short time between the years 1835 and 1836. This conflict resulted in one battle where only one man was shot in the leg. It ended with the Toledo strip being given to Ohio and Michigan receiving the upper peninsula in return from the federal government. At first, Ohio thought they won until massive amounts of natural resources were found in the upper peninsula allowing for Michigan to become an even more powerful state.

Michigan is also a state that experiences all four seasons throughout the year. So in the summer you can enjoy yourself on a nice beach, which wont be hard to find considering Michigan has the most shoreline of all the states except for Alaska, according to Michigan.gov. Throughout the fall you can do a lot of things like going to a cider mill, hunt, fish, etc. Or you can enjoy Michigan’s winter season, a couple things that a lot of people do during the winter include skiing or snowboarding, snowshoeing, visit frozen waterfalls, snowmobiling, and lots more! Lastly the spring which is a season just like summer.

With Michigan playing such a huge and influential role in the world, having an amazing history, driving the automotive industry, having the great lakes, and lots more it can be considered one of the best states in America and quite possibly the best place in the world.