Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Peninsula in northern Michigan, US.

The Upper Peninsula is a large stretch of land lying between Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron, with over 1700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. It includes widespread forests, wetlands, and thousands of smaller inland waters scattered between rolling hills and rocky outcrops.

In the 1840s mineral strikes drew thousands of workers, and by 1860 nine tenths of American copper came from this area. Later the mining industry declined while forestry and tourism grew, reshaping the economy.

Locals, who call themselves Yoopers, practice customs passed down from Finnish immigrants such as regular sauna sessions and making pasties, a hand pie originally brought by Cornish miners. In smaller towns you may hear traces of Finnish dialects or French Canadian phrases, echoes of earlier settler communities.

You can reach the region by crossing the Mackinac Bridge from Michigan's lower peninsula or by ferry routes that cross the lake. In winter heavy snowfall can close some roads for days at a time, so winter tires and supplies are advisable.

Lake effect can deliver up to 250 inches (635 centimeters) of snow during winter months, drawing ski areas and snowmobile enthusiasts from distant regions. On very cold days ice caves form along Lake Superior cliffs, becoming accessible in calm weather.