Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Michigan's Lower Peninsula is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the lower peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people associate with a mitten. This has led to several folkloric creation myths for the area, one being that it is a hand print of Paul Bunyan, a giant lumberjack and favorite folk character in Michigan. This has also led to the distinctive phenomenon of Lower Peninsula residents holding out their hand and pointing to a spot on it when asked where they are from.
The Lower Peninsula is also known to Michiganders (or Michiganians) as "The Mitten", "Below the Bridge", and occasionally "The L.P." (in parallel with "the U.P." for the Upper Peninsula). It is referred to - with more than a little sarcasm - as "Detroit" by residents of the Upper Peninsula. Residents of the Lower Peninsula are also jokingly referred to as "Trolls" (because they live "below the bridge").
Michigan's Lower Peninsula can be divided into six main regions based on geological, soil, and vegetation differences; amount of urban areas or rural areas; minority populations; and agriculture. These are Northern Michigan, Central (or Mid-) Michigan, the Thumb, Western Michigan, Southern Michigan, and Southeast Michigan.
Contents |
The Thumb
Major Cities
Central Michigan (Mid-Michigan)
Major Cities
Attractions
Southeast Michigan/Metro Detroit
Major Cities
Attractions
- Cranbrook Educational Community
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Detroit Science Center
- Detroit Zoo
- Eastern Michigan University
- Greektown
- The Henry Ford (includes The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village)
- University of Michigan
- Wayne State University
Southern Michigan
Major Cities
Attractions
- Michigan International Speedway
- Michigan State University
- [[Sparks Foundation County Park (Cascades)]
- Michigan State Capitol
Western Michigan
Major Cities
Attractions
- Kalamazoo Air Zoo
- Kellogg Company, Cereal City USA
- Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
- Grand Valley State University
- Holland State Park, busiest state park in Michigan
- Muskegon Air Show
- Tulip Festival in Holland
- Unity Christian Music Festival in Muskegon
- Western Michigan University
Northern Michigan
Major Cities
Attractions
- Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Leelanau Peninsula
- Mackinac Island
- National Cherry Festival in Traverse City
- Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Categories
Geography of Michigan | Peninsulas of the United States