Michigan

Michigan is a state in the northeastern United States, in the Great Lakes region. 

It is unique because it consists of two peninsulas: the Lower Peninsula (which looks like a mitten) and the Upper Peninsula (UP), which are connected by the Mackinac Bridge.

Capital: Lansing. 

Largest city: Detroit (known as the birthplace of the American automotive industry). 

It has the longest freshwater coastline in the world (more than 5,000 km) thanks to the four Great Lakes (Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Superior) and tens of thousands of inland lakes. 

Nickname: Wolverine State or Great Lakes State. 

Motto: “Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice” → “If you are looking for a pleasant peninsula, look around you.” 

Economy and characteristics: Michigan is still strongly connected to the automotive industry, but has diversified into technology, agriculture, tourism, and services. 

The state has many forests, hills, and a temperate climate with harsh winters. 

The Upper Peninsula is sparsely populated, forested, and rich in nature and minerals; the Lower Peninsula is more densely populated and industrial. 

In short: Michigan = two peninsulas, four Great Lakes, cars, Detroit, and an enormous amount of water and nature. 

It is a typical Midwestern state with a rich industrial history and beautiful lake landscapes.

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Minnesota

Minnesota is a state in the northern Midwest (Upper Midwest) of the United States. 

It became the 32nd state of the US on May 11, 1858. 

Nickname: The official nickname is "Land of 10,000 Lakes," although there are actually more than 14,000. 

The name "Minnesota" comes from Dakota (Sioux) and roughly means "sky-tinted water" or "blue waters." 

Location: Borders Canada (Manitoba and Ontario) to the north, Wisconsin and Lake Superior to the east, Iowa to the south, and North/South Dakota to the west. 

It is the northernmost of the 48 contiguous states. 

Landscape: Many forests (about a third of the state), prairies, farmland, and, of course, thousands of lakes and rivers. 

Glaciers from the Ice Age have strongly shaped the landscape. 

Capital: Saint Paul. 

Largest city: Minneapolis. 

The Twin Cities form the political, economic, and cultural heart of the state. 

Economy and characteristics: Minnesota is known for agriculture (corn, soybeans), forestry, mining (iron ore), healthcare (think of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester), and technology companies such as 3M and Target. 

It has harsh winters and mild summers and often scores high on livability. 

In short: a cold, lake-rich state with beautiful nature, friendly residents ("Minnesota Nice"), a strong economy, and a mix of urban life in the Twin Cities and a quiet rural atmosphere. 

Ideal for nature lovers, fishermen, and outdoor activities!

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Mississippi

Mississippi is a state in the southeastern United States (Deep South), on the Gulf of Mexico. 

The name comes from a Native American word meaning "great waters" or "father of waters," referring to the Mississippi River which forms the western border. 

Nickname: Magnolia State. 

Capital and largest city: Jackson. 

Joining the US: December 10, 1817 (20th state). 

Governor: Tate Reeves (Republican). 

The state has a low-lying landscape with fertile soil, ideal for agriculture (historically cotton, now also soybeans, rice, and chicken). 

It has a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. 

Key features include the Mississippi Delta, the coast with beaches and cities such as Biloxi and Gulfport, and historical sites from the time of plantations and the Civil War (Mississippi seceded from the Union in 1861). 

Mississippi is known for its rich musical heritage (blues, rock 'n' roll), hospitality, and cultural history, but also faces challenges such as a relatively low per capita income. 

It is a predominantly rural state with a strong Republican political preference.

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Missouri

Missouri is a state in the Midwest of the United States, also known as the Show-Me State. 

Capital: Jefferson City. 

Largest cities: St. Louis (known for the Gateway Arch), Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia. 

Location and geography: Missouri borders eight other states (more than almost any other state): Iowa (north), Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee (east, partly via the Mississippi River), Arkansas (south), and Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska (west). 

The Missouri River runs straight through the state. 

To the north, there are rolling hills and fertile plains; to the south, the Ozark Mountains with valleys, rivers, and caves. 

Economy and characteristics: Missouri is a mix of agriculture, industry (including being a leader in lead production), and services. 

It is known for its barbecue (Kansas City-style), jazz history, the Ozarks for tourism, and as the "Gateway to the West". 

The nickname "Show-Me State" refers to a down-to-earth, skeptical attitude: prove it. 

In short: a central, diverse state with a rich history, two major metropolitan areas, and a bridging function between North/South and East/West in America.

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Montana

Montana is one of the fifty states of the United States, located in the northwest of the country, on the border with Canada. 

Nickname and landscape: Montana is also known as "Big Sky Country" or "Treasure State". 

The west consists of impressive parts of the Rocky Mountains with high mountains, forests, and lakes. 

The east is characterized by vast prairies, plains, and badlands. 

Capital and largest city: Capital: Helena. 

Largest city: Billings. 

Economy and characteristics: The economy traditionally relies on agriculture (livestock farming and grain), mining, oil, gas, and timber. 

Tourism is growing strongly thanks to the beautiful natural scenery, national parks (such as parts of Yellowstone and Glacier), and outdoor activities. 

In short: a vast, rugged state with stunning nature, few people, and plenty of space – ideal for those who love wilderness and "big sky".

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Nebraska

Nebraska is a state in the Midwest of the United States, also known as the Cornhusker State due to its corn production. 

Capital: Lincoln. 

Largest city: Omaha (on the Missouri River). 

Joining the US: March 1, 1867, as the 37th state. 

Location and landscape: Nebraska is largely situated on the Great Plains. 

It borders South Dakota (north), Wyoming (west), Colorado (southwest), Kansas (south), and Iowa and Missouri via the Missouri River (east). 

It is a typical agricultural state with abundant corn, beef, and grain. 

The climate is continental: hot summers and cold winters. 

Special features: Nebraska has a unicameral parliament, unique in the US: legislators are elected without party affiliation. 

Known for agriculture, livestock farming, the University of Nebraska (strong in American football), and pioneer history. 

 There is also a well-known film from 2013 called Nebraska (by Alexander Payne, starring Bruce Dern), about a father-son road trip – but that is fiction, not a documentary about the state. 

In short: Nebraska is a quiet, vast prairie state with a rich agricultural tradition and a pioneering past.

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Nevada

Nevada is one of the states of the United States (abbreviation: N.V.). 

It is also known as the Silver State, due to its historic silver mining. 

Capital: Carson City. 

Largest city: Las Vegas (the majority of the population lives in the Las Vegas Valley, approximately three-quarters of all residents). 

Nicknames: Silver State, Battle Born State (admitted during the American Civil War in 1864), and Sagebrush State. 

Geography and climate: Nevada is the driest state in the US, consisting mainly of deserts (Great Basin and Mojave) and mountain ranges. 

The landscape is rugged and mountainous, with much uninhabited territory. 

A large portion of the land is federally owned. 

Famous attractions include the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and national parks such as Valley of Fire. 

Economy and culture: Known for gambling and tourism: Las Vegas is the world-famous entertainment and gambling paradise ("Sin City"). 

Other important sectors: mining (especially gold – Nevada is one of the world's largest gold producers), tourism, and entertainment. 

The state has liberal laws, such as legal prostitution in some counties (not in Las Vegas or Reno). 

In short: a vast, dry desert state with extreme contrasts – empty nature versus bustling casino cities like Las Vegas. Ideal for nature lovers *and* entertainment lovers!

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