Resources
Mineral Resources. From 1845 to 1877, Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula mines produced more native copper ore then any other mining
area in North America. The quantity of Michigan's native copper was unsurpassed in the world. These easily mined copper deposits
have been greatly exhausted, and Michigan's last copper mine closed in October 1995. Michigan's Lake Superior region also has geologic
formations containing large concentrations of iron. Most surface iron now has been depleted, requiring the use of underground mines.
Today, only one company perform the costly extracting of iron from two mines located in the Upper Peninsula.
Oil and gas fields are found in 63 of Michigan's 83 counties. Over the years, more than 1.2 billion barrels of oil and 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas have withdrawn from Michigan's rock formations.
Water Resources. Michigan's water resources provide her with a mild climate, a ready source of power and transportation, and a growing tourist industry. The state's two peninsulas are almost surrounded by four of the Great Lakes: Huron, Michigan, Erie and Superior. Michigan has 11,037 inland lakes, of which the largest is Houghton Lake, with an area of 31.3 square miles. Torch Lake, the second largest, is also the deepest, reaching a 297 foot depth at one point. Lake Gogebic is the largest lake in the Upper Peninsula.
Michigan has 36,350 miles of rivers, most of which are not very long. Generally they flow through shallow valleys. In the Lower Peninsula, there are many rapids but only one major waterfall, Ocqueoc Falls. In the Upper Peninsula where the streams flow over upthrust rocky strata, there are about 150 waterfalls, the largest being Tahquamenon Falls.
The Saginaw River is only 20 miles long, but with its tributaries is the largest drainage system in the state. The Grand River has the second largest drainage basin and is the longest in actual length. Other important streams include the Muskegon and the AuSable Rivers, famed in logging days, now noted fishing streams. Three short rivers are vital to the economy of the state; the Detroit, St. Clair and St. Mary's River, with its Soo Locks, carry the world's goods between the Great Lakes.
Forests. About 50% of the state's total land area is covered with 19.3 million acres of forests, two-thirds of which is birch, aspen and oak. Michigan timberland, or forest lands capable of producing commercial timber, accounts for 18.6 million acres of forest land, representing the fifth-largest timberland acreage in the continental United States. Softwoods cover 25% and hardwoods 75% of the timberland. From an economic perspective, forest-based industries, recreation and tourism support 200,000 jobs statewide and contribute over $12 billion to the state's economy.
Wildlife. The wildlife of Michigan has from the earliest period been a major asset of the state. The fur-bearing animals brought the French and British while the game provided food and clothing for the pioneers. Michigan still has a wealth of big game, small game, fowl and fish. The white-tailed deer and black bear are probably the most common large animals; some moose and timber wolves live on Isle Royale. Coyotes, bobcats and red fox are other animals in both peninsulas.
Rabbits and squirrels are the chief small game animals in Michigan. Other small animals include opossum, mink, otter, muskrat, skunk and porcupine.
Three hundred fifty-one species of birds have been found in Michigan. Ruffled grouse or partridge, ring-necked pheasant and sharptail grouse are important game birds. Waterfowl are also important - many ducks, geese and loons live in or migrate through Michigan.
Land birds outnumber waterfowl in numbers of species with nearly 200 species of nongame land birds found in the state. The Jackpine or Kirtland's warbler is Michigan's own bird since the plains of Oscoda and Crawford Counties are its only breeding grounds.
Michigan's Great Lakes location and large number of lakes and streams have given her a wealth of fish life. Of the 149 types of native fishes, about 25 species are pursued for sport. Lake trout and whitefish have been important food fish to Native Americans before the arrival of white men - brook, brown and rainbow trout are popular game fish. Since being introduced, coho and chinook salmon have rapidly become important game fish.