Charles Cooper, age 12, of Dorchester, Mass.,

What is a peninsula?

This lilting word is coined from two Latin words. It means an almost‑island. A peninsula is a bit of land almost surrounded by water. One end of it is attached to a larger body of land. It is usually a long strip of land Jutting out into the sea.

Peninsulas come in a variety of sizes. The state of Florida is on the . biggest peninsula along the eastern coast of America, But Massachusetts also has some fine peninsulas. Beautiful Cape Cod is a collar‑shaped peninsula hooking up into the Atlantic Ocean.

Study the map of Massachusetts in your gift Atlas, You will find cite a number of little peninsulas even closer to home. Pick out all the little strips of land poking out into Massachusetts Bay. All of them are little peninsulas.