Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Mackinac Bridge
Mackinac Bridge over the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan.
Straits of Mackinac
channel, Michigan, United States
Straits of Mackinac, channel connecting Lakes Michigan (west) and Huron (east) and forming an important waterway between the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan, U.S. Spanned by the Mackinac Bridge (opened 1957) and underwater gas and oil pipelines, the straits are 4 miles (6 km) wide and approximately 30 miles (50 km) long and include the passage between several islands in northwestern Lake Huron. Discovered by Jean Nicolet in 1634, the straits played a prominent role in the fur trade and defense of the upper Great Lakes and Canada.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Lorraine Murray.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.