List of U.S. states by elevation
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The elevation of U.S. states may be described in several ways. These include:
- the elevation of their highest point;
- the elevation of their lowest point
- and the difference between (range of) their highest points and lowest points.
The following list is a comparison of elevation absolutes in the United States. Data include interval measures of highest and lowest elevation for all fifty states and Washington, D.C..[1]
Which state is "highest" and "lowest" is determined by the definition of "high" and "low". For instance, Alaska could be regarded as the highest state because Denali, at 20,310 feet (6,190.5 m), is the highest point in the United States. However, Colorado, with the highest mean elevation of any state as well as the highest low point, could also be considered a candidate for "highest state". Determining which state is "lowest" is equally problematic. California contains the Badwater Basin in Death Valley, at 279 feet (85 m) below sea level, the lowest point in the United States;[2] while Florida has the lowest high point, and Delaware has the lowest mean elevation. Florida is also the flattest state, with the smallest difference between its highest and lowest points.
The list of highest points in each state is important to the sport of highpointing, where enthusiasts attempt to visit the highest point in each of the contiguous forty-eight states or in all fifty states.[3] As of 2006, 155 people had reached all fifty state highpoints.[4] Roughly 200–300 people attend the Highpointers Club convention each year.[5]
All elevations in the table below have been adjusted to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988.[6] The mean elevation for each state is accurate to the nearest 100 ft (30 m).
Elevation table
State | Highest point | Highest elevation | Rank (High point) | Lowest point | Lowest elevation | Mean elevation | Elevation span |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Cheaha Mountain[9] | ft 736 m |
2,41335 | Gulf of Mexico | sea level | ft 150 m |
500 ft 736 m | 2,413
Alaska | Denali[10] | ft 6190.5 m |
20,3101 | Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean | sea level | ft 580 m |
1,900 ft 6190.5 m | 20,310
Arizona | Humphreys Peak[11] | ft 3852 m |
12,63712 | Colorado River at Sonora border, San Luis, Arizona | ft 22 m |
72 ft 1250 m |
4,100 ft 3830 m | 12,565
Arkansas | Mount Magazine[12] | ft 839 m |
2,75334 | Ouachita River at Louisiana border | ft 17 m |
55 ft 200 m |
650 ft 822 m | 2,698
California | Mount Whitney[13][14] | ft 4421.0 m |
14,5052 | Badwater Basin in Death Valley[1][2][15] | −279 ft −85 m |
ft 880 m |
2,900 ft 4506 m | 14,783
Colorado | Mount Elbert[16][17] | ft 4401.2 m |
14,4403 | Arikaree River at Kansas border[18][19] | ft 1011 m |
3,317 ft 2070 m |
6,800 ft 3390 m | 11,123
Connecticut | Massachusetts border on south side of Mount Frissell[20] | ft 725 m |
2,37936 | Long Island Sound | sea level | ft 150 m |
500 ft 725 m | 2,379
Delaware | Near the Ebright Azimuth[21][22] | ft 136 m |
44749 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 20 m |
60 ft 136 m | 447
District of Columbia | Fort Reno[23] | ft 125 m |
40950 | Potomac River at eastern Maryland border | ft 0.3 m |
1.0 ft 50 m |
150 ft 124 m | 408
Florida | Britton Hill | ft 105 m |
34551 | Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico | sea level | ft 30 m |
100 ft 105 m | 345
Georgia | Brasstown Bald | ft 1458 m |
4,78425 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 180 m |
600 ft 1458 m | 4,784
Hawaii | Mauna Kea[24][25] on the Island of Hawaii | ft 4207 m |
13,8036 | Pacific Ocean | sea level | ft 920 m |
3,030 ft 4207 m | 13,803
Idaho | Borah Peak[26] | ft 3861 m |
12,66811 | Confluence of Snake River and Clearwater River | ft 217 m |
713 ft 1520 m |
5,000 ft 3644 m | 11,954
Illinois | Charles Mound[27] | ft 376 m |
1,23545 | Confluence of Mississippi River and Ohio River | ft 85 m |
280 ft 180 m |
600 ft 291 m | 955
Indiana | Hoosier Hill | ft 383 m |
1,25744 | Confluence of Ohio River and Wabash River | ft 97 m |
320 ft 210 m |
700 ft 286 m | 937
Iowa | Hawkeye Point | ft 509 m |
1,67142 | Confluence of Mississippi River and Des Moines River | ft 146 m |
480 ft 340 m |
1,100 ft 363 m | 1,191
Kansas | Mount Sunflower | ft 1232 m |
4,04128 | Verdigris River at Oklahoma border | ft 207 m |
679 ft 610 m |
2,000 ft 1025 m | 3,361
Kentucky | Black Mountain | ft 1263 m |
4,14527 | Mississippi River at Kentucky Bend | ft 78 m |
257 ft 230 m |
750 ft 1185 m | 3,887
Louisiana | Driskill Mountain | ft 163 m |
53548 | New Orleans | −8 ft −2.4 m |
ft 30 m |
100 ft 165 m | 543
Maine | Mount Katahdin[28] | ft 1606.4 m |
5,27022 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 180 m |
600 ft 1606.4 m | 5,270
Maryland | Hoye-Crest | ft 1024 m |
3,36032 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 110 m |
350 ft 1024 m | 3,360
Massachusetts | Mount Greylock[29] | ft 1063 m |
3,48931 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 150 m |
500 ft 1063 m | 3,489
Michigan | Mount Arvon | ft 603 m |
1,97938 | Lake Erie | ft 174 m |
571 ft 270 m |
900 ft 429 m | 1,408
Minnesota | Eagle Mountain | ft 701 m |
2,30237 | Lake Superior | ft 183 m |
601 ft 370 m |
1,200 ft 518 m | 1,700
Mississippi | Woodall Mountain[30] | ft 246 m |
80747 | Gulf of Mexico | sea level | ft 90 m |
300 ft 246 m | 807
Missouri | Taum Sauk Mountain | ft 540 m |
1,77241 | Saint Francis River at southern Arkansas border | ft 70 m |
230 ft 240 m |
800 ft 470 m | 1,542
Montana | Granite Peak[31] | ft 3903.5 m |
12,80710 | Kootenai River at Idaho border | ft 550 m |
1,804 ft 1040 m |
3,400 ft 3354 m | 11,003
Nebraska | Panorama Point | ft 1654 m |
5,42720 | Missouri River at Kansas border | ft 256 m |
840 ft 790 m |
2,600 ft 1398 m | 4,587
Nevada | Boundary Peak[32] | ft 4007 m |
13,1479 | Colorado River at California border | ft 147 m |
481 ft 1680 m |
5,500 ft 3860 m | 12,665
New Hampshire | Mount Washington[33][34] | ft 1917 m |
6,28818 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 300 m |
1,000 ft 1917 m | 6,288
New Jersey | High Point | ft 550 m |
1,80340 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 80 m |
250 ft 550 m | 1,803
New Mexico | Wheeler Peak[35] | ft 4013.3 m |
13,1678 | Red Bluff Reservoir on Texas border | ft 867 m |
2,844 ft 1740 m |
5,700 ft 3147 m | 10,323
New York | Mount Marcy[36] | ft 1628.57 m |
5,34321 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 300 m |
1,000 ft 1628.57 m | 5,343
North Carolina | Mount Mitchell[37] | ft 2037 m |
6,68416 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 210 m |
700 ft 2037 m | 6,684
North Dakota | White Butte | ft 1069 m |
3,50830 | Red River of the North at Manitoba border | ft 229 m |
751 ft 580 m |
1,900 ft 840 m | 2,757
Ohio | Campbell Hill | ft 472 m |
1,54943 | Ohio River at Indiana border | ft 139 m |
455 ft 260 m |
850 ft 333 m | 1,094
Oklahoma | Black Mesa | ft 1516 m |
4,97523 | Little River at Arkansas border | ft 88 m |
289 ft 400 m |
1,300 ft 1428 m | 4,686
Oregon | Mount Hood[38] | ft 3428.8 m |
11,24913 | Pacific Ocean | sea level | ft 1010 m |
3,300 ft 3428.8 m | 11,249
Pennsylvania | Mount Davis | ft 979 m |
3,21333 | Delaware River at Delaware border | sea level | ft 340 m |
1,100 ft 979 m | 3,213
Rhode Island | Jerimoth Hill | ft 247 m |
81146 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 60 m |
200 ft 247 m | 811
South Carolina | Sassafras Mountain | ft 1085 m |
3,56029 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 110 m |
350 ft 1085 m | 3,560
South Dakota | Black Elk Peak[39] | ft 2208 m |
7,24415 | Big Stone Lake on Minnesota border | ft 295 m |
968 ft 670 m |
2,200 ft 1913 m | 6,276
Tennessee | Clingmans Dome | ft 2025 m |
6,64317 | Mississippi River at Mississippi border | ft 54 m |
178 ft 270 m |
900 ft 1971 m | 6,466
Texas | Guadalupe Peak[40] | ft 2667 m |
8,75114 | Gulf of Mexico | sea level | ft 520 m |
1,700 ft 2667 m | 8,751
Utah | Kings Peak[41] | ft 4125 m |
13,5347 | Beaver Dam Wash at Arizona border | ft 664 m |
2,180 ft 1860 m |
6,100 ft 3461 m | 11,354
Vermont | Mount Mansfield[42] | ft 1340 m |
4,39526 | Lake Champlain | ft 29 m |
95 ft 300 m |
1,000 ft 1311 m | 4,300
Virginia | Mount Rogers | ft 1746 m |
5,72919 | Atlantic Ocean | sea level | ft 290 m |
950 ft 1746 m | 5,729
Washington | Mount Rainier[43] | ft 4394 m |
14,4174 | Pacific Ocean | sea level | ft 520 m |
1,700 ft 4394 m | 14,417
West Virginia | Spruce Knob[44] | ft 1482.1 m |
4,86324 | Potomac River at Virginia border | ft 73 m |
240 ft 460 m |
1,500 ft 1409 m | 4,623
Wisconsin | Timms Hill | ft 595 m |
1,95139 | Lake Michigan | ft 176 m |
579 ft 320 m |
1,050 ft 418 m | 1,372
Wyoming | Gannett Peak[45] | ft 4209.1 m |
13,8095 | Belle Fourche River at South Dakota border | ft 945 m |
3,101 ft 2040 m |
6,700 ft 3264 m | 10,709
United States | Denali,[10] Alaska | ft 6190.5 m |
20,310Badwater Basin,[15] California | −279 ft −85 m |
ft 760 m |
2,500 ft 6275.5 m | 20,589
Gallery
-
Denali is the highest summit of the State of Alaska, the United States, and all of North America.
-
Mount Whitney is the highest summit of the Sierra Nevada, the State of California, and the "Lower 48" contiguous United States.
-
Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains and the State of Colorado.
-
Mount Rainier is the highest summit of the Cascade Range and the State of Washington
-
Gannett Peak is the highest summit of the Wind River Range and the State of Wyoming.
-
Mauna Kea is the highest summit the State of Hawaiʻi and the entire Pacific Ocean.
-
Kings Peak is the highest summit of the Uinta Range and the State of Utah.
-
Wheeler Peak in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is the highest summit of the State of New Mexico.
-
Granite Peak is the highest summit of the Beartooth Range and the State of Montana.
-
Borah Peak is the highest summit of the Lost River Range and the State of Idaho.
-
Black Elk Peak is the highest summit of the Black Hills and the State of South Dakota.
-
Mount Mitchell is the highest summit of the Appalachian Mountains and the State of North Carolina.
-
Mount Washington is the highest summit of the White Mountains and the State of New Hampshire.
-
Mount Katahdin is the highest summit of the State of Maine
-
Lake Michigan is the lowest area of the State of Wisconsin.
-
Britton Hill in the State of Florida is the lowest state high point in the United States.
-
Lake Champlain is the lowest area of the State of Vermont.
-
The Badwater Basin in Death Valley is the lowest area of the State of California, the United States, and all of North America.
Additional highest U.S. areas
- Puerto Rico - Cerro de Punta
- Guam - Mount Lamlam
- U.S. Virgin Islands - Crown Mountain
- American Samoa - Lata Mountain
See also
![](../I/m/USA_topo_en.jpg)
- List of elevation extremes by country
- List of elevation extremes by region
- United States
- World Geodetic System
References
- 1 2 3 "Elevations and Distances in the United States". Reston, Virginia: USGS. April 29, 2005. Archived from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved October 24, 2011. Originally published in 1995.
- 1 2 "USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) 1 meter Downloadable Data Collection from The National Map 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) - National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) National Elevation Data Set (NED)". United States Geological Survey. September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ↑ Holmes, Don W. (2000). Highpoints of the United States: A Guide to the Fifty State Summits. University of Utah Press. ISBN 0-87480-645-3.
- ↑ Regenold, Stephen (June 10, 2006). "Seeing the highpoints of every state". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
- ↑ "Highpointers Club Frequently Asked Questions". highpointers.org. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
- ↑ "What is a geodetic datum?". Frequently Asked Questions about the National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ↑ "U.S. State Highpoints". summitpost.org. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ↑ "U.S. State High Points". peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Cheehahaw". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- 1 2 The summit of Denali is the highest point in North America and the United States of America. The summit of Denali is the third-most prominent summit and the third-most isolated summit on Earth after Mount Everest and Aconcagua.
- ↑ "Frisco". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Mag". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Whitney". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ The summit of Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States.
- 1 2 The Badwater Basin in Death Valley is the lowest point in North America and the United States of America.
- ↑ "Mount Elbert". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ The summit of Mount Elbert is the highest point of the Rocky Mountains of North America.
- ↑ The Arikaree River at the point where it exits the State of Colorado is the highest state low point of the 50 United States.
- ↑ Dale Sanderson. "Arikaree River - Lowest Point in Colorado". Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ The highest point in the State of Connecticut is the only U.S. state high point that is not a topographic summit.
- ↑ "Highest Point in Delaware". Delaware Geological Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Regarding the highest point in Delaware". Delaware Repeater Association. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ Dvorak, Petula. "D.C.'s Puny Peak Enough to Pump Up 'Highpointers'". The Washington Post. The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ↑ "Summit USGS 1977". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ The summit of Mauna Kea is the highest point in Oceania. Mauna Kea is also the tallest mountain on Earth as measured from base to summit. The shield volcano sits on the floor of the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 5,998 meters (19,678 ft) for a total height of 10,205.3 meters (33,482 ft)
- ↑ "Beauty Reset". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Charles". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Katahdin 2". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Greylock RM 1 Reset". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey.
- ↑ "Knob Reset". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey.
- ↑ "Granite Peak". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Boundary". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Mt Wash". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ The summit of Mount Washington is the highest point on the northeastern Northern American Continent.
- ↑ "Wheeler". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Marcy". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ The summit of Mount Mitchell is the highest point on the eastern Northern American Continent.
- ↑ "Mount Hood Highest Point". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Black Elk Peak". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- ↑ "El Capitan". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Kings Peak, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
- ↑ "Mt Mansfield Highest Point". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ↑ The summit of Mount Rainier is the most prominent point in the contiguous United States.
- ↑ "Spruce Knob Cairn 1956". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Gannett Peak Cairn". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
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