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Glite Dictionary
Upper Peninsula

Upper Peninsula

1 4.2
The peninsula in the northwestern part of Michigan between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan
  • proper noun
  • /ˈʌpər pəˈnɪnsələ/
translation icon : Península Superior
  • Many travelers enjoy exploring the lush forests and scenic beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
  • the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Examples

  • The town of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the border of Ontario, Canada.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Thanks, RW. Michigan's Upper Peninsula has been restored.

    Blog text (27)

  • This area is ideal for viewing the pristine landscapes of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

    Blog text (12)

  • When Sarah was a child, her family made the long drive to Grandma's small house in Michigan's Upper Peninsula only twice a year, once in summer and once at Christmas.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • We're livin' it up on the U.P.—that's Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

    Blog text (32)

  • The headquarters is located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, which governs five tribal units throughout seven counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Paradise, Michigan, is a little town in the Upper Peninsula, on the shores of Lake Superior, across Whitefish Bay from Sault Ste. Marie, or "the Soo," as the locals call it.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The historic lighthouse is a popular attraction in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

  • Visitors can witness stunning sunsets over Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Synonyms

Upper Peninsula of Michigan
vsUpper Peninsula
6.7

A peninsula between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan with forests, lakes, and small towns

focuses only on the location between the lakes without mentioning local character

Surface Forms

Upper Peninsula main

Morphology

upper + peninsula

The phrase combines the adjective 'upper' (toward the top/north) with 'peninsula' (a landmass mostly surrounded by water), so its meaning as the top/northern part of a peninsula is directly inferable from the constituents. This toponymic composition is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably understand the MWE even if they don't know the specific Michigan referent.

Etymology

Upper Peninsula is named for a simple picture: upper means the northern part and peninsula means land almost surrounded by water, so the name describes the northern piece of Michigan that sticks into the lakes. That's why Upper Peninsula refers to the peninsula between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.