Geography and Landforms:

The state of Michigan consists of two peninsulas separated by the Straits of Mackinac. The Upper Peninsula lies between Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. The Lower Peninsula is bordered on the West by Lake Michigan and on the East by Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and two rivers, the Detroit and the St. Clair.

The Superior Upland covers the western portion of the Upper Peninsula. It is an area of rugged, forested mountains that range from 600 to 1,980 feet above sea level. Michigan’s highest point, Mount Curwood, is located here.

The eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula and the entire Lower Peninsula are part of the Great Lakes Plains. In the Upper Peninsula, limestone hills and swampy flats cover the shores of Lake Michigan while sandstone ridges rise from the waters of Lake Superior. In the Lower Peninsula, the land is fairly level with some areas of rolling hills. High bluffs and sand dunes border Lake Michigan. The state’s lowest point (572 feet) is located along the shore of Lake Erie. The soil in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula is sandy and covered with pine trees, scrub, and stumps, but rich farmland is found in the lower portion of this region.

The shoreline of Michigan is more than 3200 miles long. No part of the state is more than 85 miles from one of the Great Lakes.