Peninsulas

A peninsula is a piece of land that is almost surrounded by water. It sticks out from a larger body of land. Water is on three sides, but one side is connected to the mainland. Peninsulas come in many shapes and sizes.

Peninsulas Big and Small

Some peninsulas are huge. The Arabian Peninsula is the largest in the world. Florida is a well-known peninsula in the United States. Italy is shaped like a boot and is a peninsula too. Even small pieces of land that jut into a lake can be peninsulas.

Why Peninsulas Matter

Peninsulas are great for harbors and ports because they are close to the water. Many cities have been built on peninsulas. San Francisco sits on the tip of a peninsula. Peninsulas also have long coastlines, which means lots of beaches and fishing spots.

Fun Facts

• The word peninsula comes from Latin and means almost an island.
• Michigan has two large peninsulas, called the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula.
• The Korean Peninsula is home to two countries: North Korea and South Korea.

Did You Know?

Europe is sometimes called a big peninsula because it sticks out from the larger continent of Asia!