Michoacán (Spanish pronunciation: [mitʃoa’kan], from Nahuatl Michhuacān "place of the fishermen"), formally Michoacán de Ocampo, is one of the 31 constituent states of Mexico. It borders the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west, Guanajuato and Querétaro to the north, México to the east, Guerrero to the south-east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south.

Michoacán has an area of 59,864 km² (23,113.6 sq mi).

It is the sixteenth largest state in Mexico, taking up 3% of the national territory. In a 2005 census the population was at 3,966,073 people.

Its state capital is the city of Morelia (previously known as Valladolid), located between 2 main cities in Mexico, Mexico City and Guadalajara. In early spring and summer, people from all over the world go to Michoacán to enjoy its sierras (mountains and countrysides) full of green which host unique animal and floral species, lakes, and waterfalls like Salto de Enandio which is 200 feet high and Chorros del Varal (300 ft high). The southern part of the state borders the Pacific Ocean for more than 130 miles (210 km). As in most of the beaches in Mexico, surfing is a common activity by tourists and townspeople.

Yearly between about October and April tourism increases as more than a hundred million monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and north of the United States to the mountains in Michoacán, to spend the winter in Oyamel Forests. For decades, the communities of Angangueo, El Rosario, Zitácuaro, Ocampo, with help from the State government, have created complete sanctuaries to protect this species. Another major attraction is the volcano Parícutin, one of the newest volcanoes in the world (although no longer the newest owing to the 1963 birth of Surtsey in Iceland, among others). Born on February 20th 1943, in a large territory between the towns of San Juan Parangaricutiro and Angahuan, it is considered by many as one of the natural wonders of the world of modern times.

There are also several archeology temples and sites where tourists get to see ancient petroglyphs of many different indigenous cultures, some of them still present in many towns in Michoacán. The capital city is Morelia, often cited as 'the most beautiful city in Mexico', with its fabulous colonial architecture, the stunning 400-year old cathedral and its museums.

The Museum of Masks, the Museum of Geology and Mineralogy, the Museum of Contemporary Art Alfredo Zalce and The Museum of Colonial Art are the most visited by tourists.

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