The topography of Michigan varies significantly between the two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula is largely flat to gently rolling, shaped by historical glacial activity that left behind moraines, rich soil, and glacial lakes. Its highest point is Briar Hill (1,706 ft).
The Upper Peninsula features a much more rugged and elevated landscape, particularly in the west. The Porcupine Mountains and the Huron Mountains provide dramatic ridges and rocky outcrops. Mount Arvon, the highest point in the state, stands at 1,979 feet in the U.P.
Along the coastlines, especially on the western edge of the Lower Peninsula along Lake Michigan, spectacular sand dunes rise above the water, most notably at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The state's lowest elevation is along the shores of Lake Erie at 571 feet.