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List of U.S. states and territories by elevation

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State high points are shown as red circles. Low points are shown with green squares, except in states whose lowest elevation spans coastlines or the shores of great lakes.

The elevation of U.S. states may be described in several ways: by the elevation of their highest point, the elevation of their lowest points, their mean elevation, 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 includes interval measures of highest and lowest elevation for all fifty states and the District of Columbia.[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 Mount McKinley, at 20,320 ft (6,194 m), is the highest point in the United States.[2] 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, as California contains the lowest point in the United States (Death Valley's Badwater Basin, at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level[3]), 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 continental forty-eight states or in all fifty states.[4] As of 2006, 155 people had successfully reached all fifty state highpoints.[5] Roughly 200–300 people attend the Highpointers Club convention each year.[6]

In the list below, the elevations shown rely on the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 unless otherwise noted.[a] The mean elevation for each state is accurate to the nearest 100 ft (30 m).

Elevation data

State Highest point[1][2][7] Highest elevation[1][2][7] Lowest point[1] Lowest elevation[1] Mean elevation[1] Elevation difference
Alabama Cheaha Mountain 2,413 ft (735 m)*[8] Gulf of Mexico 0 ft (0 m)* 500 ft (152 m)* 2,413 ft (735 m)*
Alaska Mount McKinley 20,320 ft (6,194 m)* Pacific Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 1,900 ft (579 m)* 20,320 ft (6,194 m)*
Arizona Humphreys Peak 12,637 ft (3,852 m)*[9] Colorado River 70 ft (21 m)* 4,100 ft (1,250 m)* 12,567 ft (3,830 m)*
Arkansas Magazine Mountain 2,753 ft (839 m)*[10] Ouachita River 55 ft (17 m)* 650 ft (198 m)* 2,698 ft (822 m)*
California Mount Whitney 14,505 ft (4,421 m)*[11] Badwater Basin, Death Valley −282 ft (−86 m)* 2,900 ft (884 m)* 14,787 ft (4,507 m)*
Colorado Mount Elbert 14,440 ft (4,401 m)*[12] Arikaree River[13] 3,317 ft (1,011 m)* 6,800 ft (2,073 m)* 11,123 ft (3,390 m)*
Connecticut Mount Frissell 2,380 ft (725 m)* Long Island Sound 0 ft (0 m)* 500 ft (152 m)* 2,380 ft (725 m)*
Delaware near Ebright Azimuth 451 ft (137 m)*[14][15] Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 60 ft (18 m)* 451 ft (137 m)*
District of Columbia Fort Reno 410 ft (125 m)* Potomac River 1 ft (0 m)* 150 ft (46 m)* 409 ft (125 m)*
Florida Britton Hill 345 ft (105 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 100 ft (30 m)* 345 ft (105 m)*
Georgia Brasstown Bald 4,784 ft (1,458 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 600 ft (183 m)* 4,784 ft (1,458 m)*
Hawaii Mauna Kea 13,803 ft (4,207 m)*[16] Pacific Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 3,030 ft (924 m)* 13,803 ft (4,207 m)*
Idaho Borah Peak 12,668 ft (3,861 m)*[17] Snake River 710 ft (216 m)* 5,000 ft (1,524 m)* 11,958 ft (3,645 m)*
Illinois Charles Mound 1,235 ft (376 m)*[18] Mississippi River 279 ft (85 m)* 600 ft (183 m)* 956 ft (291 m)*
Indiana Hoosier Hill 1,257 ft (383 m)* Ohio River 320 ft (98 m)* 700 ft (213 m)* 937 ft (286 m)*
Iowa Hawkeye Point 1,670 ft (509 m)* Mississippi River 480 ft (146 m)* 1,100 ft (335 m)* 1,190 ft (363 m)*
Kansas Mount Sunflower 4,039 ft (1,231 m)* Verdigris River 679 ft (207 m)* 2,000 ft (610 m)* 3,360 ft (1,024 m)*
Kentucky Black Mountain 4,145 ft (1,263 m)* Mississippi River 257 ft (78 m)* 750 ft (229 m)* 3,888 ft (1,185 m)*
Louisiana Driskill Mountain 535 ft (163 m)* New Orleans −8 ft (−2 m)* 100 ft (30 m)* 543 ft (166 m)*
Maine Mount Katahdin 5,268 ft (1,606 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 600 ft (183 m)* 5,268 ft (1,606 m)*
Maryland Hoye-Crest 3,360 ft (1,024 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 350 ft (107 m)* 3,360 ft (1,024 m)*
Massachusetts Mount Greylock 3,489 ft (1,063 m)*[19] Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 500 ft (152 m)* 3,489 ft (1,063 m)*
Michigan Mount Arvon 1,979 ft (603 m)* Lake Erie 571 ft (174 m)* 900 ft (274 m)* 1,408 ft (429 m)*
Minnesota Eagle Mountain 2,301 ft (701 m)* Lake Superior 601 ft (183 m)* 1,200 ft (366 m)* 1,700 ft (518 m)*
Mississippi Woodall Mountain 807 ft (246 m)*[20] Gulf of Mexico 0 ft (0 m)* 300 ft (91 m)* 807 ft (246 m)*
Missouri Taum Sauk Mountain 1,772 ft (540 m)* Saint Francis River 230 ft (70 m)* 800 ft (244 m)* 1,542 ft (470 m)*
Montana Granite Peak 12,807 ft (3,904 m)*[21] Kootenai River 1,800 ft (549 m)* 3,400 ft (1,036 m)* 11,007 ft (3,355 m)*
Nebraska Panorama Point 5,424 ft (1,653 m)* Missouri River 840 ft (256 m)* 2,600 ft (792 m)* 4,584 ft (1,397 m)*
Nevada Boundary Peak 13,147 ft (4,007 m)*[22] Colorado River 479 ft (146 m)* 5,500 ft (1,676 m)* 12,668 ft (3,861 m)*
New Hampshire Mount Washington 6,288 ft (1,917 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 1,000 ft (305 m)* 6,288 ft (1,917 m)*
New Jersey High Point 1,803 ft (550 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 250 ft (76 m)* 1,803 ft (550 m)*
New Mexico Wheeler Peak 13,167 ft (4,013 m)*[23] Red Bluff Reservoir 2,842 ft (866 m)* 5,700 ft (1,737 m)* 10,325 ft (3,147 m)*
New York Mount Marcy 5,344 ft (1,629 m)*[24] Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 1,000 ft (305 m)* 5,344 ft (1,629 m)*
North Carolina Mount Mitchell 6,684 ft (2,037 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 700 ft (213 m)* 6,684 ft (2,037 m)*
North Dakota White Butte 3,506 ft (1,069 m)* Red River 750 ft (229 m)* 1,900 ft (579 m)* 2,756 ft (840 m)*
Ohio Campbell Hill 1,550 ft (472 m)* Ohio River 455 ft (139 m)* 850 ft (259 m)* 1,095 ft (334 m)*
Oklahoma Black Mesa 4,973 ft (1,516 m)* Little River 289 ft (88 m)* 1,300 ft (396 m)* 4,684 ft (1,428 m)*
Oregon Mount Hood 11,249 ft (3,429 m)*[25] Pacific Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 3,300 ft (1,006 m)* 11,249 ft (3,429 m)*
Pennsylvania Mount Davis 3,213 ft (979 m)* Delaware River 0 ft (0 m)* 1,100 ft (335 m)* 3,213 ft (979 m)*
Rhode Island Jerimoth Hill 812 ft (247 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 350 ft (107 m)* 812 ft (247 m)*
South Carolina Sassafras Mountain 3,560 ft (1,085 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 350 ft (107 m)* 3,560 ft (1,085 m)*
South Dakota Harney Peak 7,244 ft (2,208 m)*[26] Big Stone Lake 966 ft (294 m)* 2,200 ft (671 m)* 6,278 ft (1,914 m)*
Tennessee Clingmans Dome 6,643 ft (2,025 m)* Mississippi River 178 ft (54 m)* 900 ft (274 m)* 6,465 ft (1,971 m)*
Texas Guadalupe Peak 8,751 ft (2,667 m)*[27] Gulf of Mexico 0 ft (0 m)* 1,700 ft (518 m)* 8,751 ft (2,667 m)*
Utah Kings Peak 13,528 ft (4,123 m)* Beaver Dam Wash 2,000 ft (610 m)* 6,100 ft (1,859 m)* 11,528 ft (3,514 m)*
Vermont Mount Mansfield 4,395 ft (1,340 m)*[28] Lake Champlain 95 ft (29 m)* 1,000 ft (305 m)* 4,300 ft (1,311 m)*
Virginia Mount Rogers 5,729 ft (1,746 m)* Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 950 ft (290 m)* 5,729 ft (1,746 m)*
Washington Mount Rainier 14,410 ft (4,392 m)* Pacific Ocean 0 ft (0 m)* 1,700 ft (518 m)* 14,410 ft (4,392 m)*
West Virginia Spruce Knob 4,863 ft (1,482 m)*[29] Potomac River 240 ft (73 m)* 1,500 ft (457 m)* 4,623 ft (1,409 m)*
Wisconsin Timms Hill 1,951 ft (595 m)* Lake Michigan 579 ft (176 m)* 1,050 ft (320 m)* 1,372 ft (418 m)*
Wyoming Gannett Peak 13,809 ft (4,209 m)*[30] Belle Fourche River 3,099 ft (945 m)* 6,700 ft (2,042 m)* 10,710 ft (3,264 m)*

See also

A topographical map of the contiguous United States with hypsometric tints

Note

a The National Geodetic Survey defines a vertical datum to be "a set of constants specifying the coordinate system used ... for calculating the coordinate points on the Earth", which is independent of geodetic measurements of specific points on the Earth.[31]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Extreme and Mean Elevations by State and Other Areas" (PDF). United States Census. 2004. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "U.S. State Highpoints". summitpost.org. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  3. ^ "Badwater". United States Geological Survey. 2004-01-13. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
  4. ^ Holmes, Don W. (2000). Highpoints of the United States: A Guide to the Fifty State Summits. University of Utah Press. ISBN 0874806453.
  5. ^ Regenold, Stephen (June 10, 2006). "Seeing the highpoints of every state". Associated Press. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  6. ^ "Highpointers Club Frequently Asked Questions". highpointers.org. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  7. ^ a b "U.S. State High Points". peakbagger.com. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  8. ^ "Cheehahaw". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  9. ^ "Frisco". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  10. ^ "MAG". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  11. ^ "Whitney". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  12. ^ "Mount Elbert". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  13. ^ Dale Sanderson. "Arikaree River - Lowest Point in Colorado". Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  14. ^ "Highest Point in Delaware". Delaware Geological Survey. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  15. ^ "Regarding the highest point in Delaware". Delaware Repeater Association. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  16. ^ "Summit USGS 1977". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  17. ^ "Beauty Reset". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
  18. ^ "Charles". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
  19. ^ "Greylock RM 1 Reset". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
  20. ^ "Knob Reset". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
  21. ^ "Granite Peak". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  22. ^ "Boundary". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  23. ^ "Wheeler". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  24. ^ "Marcy". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
  25. ^ "Mount Hood Highest Point". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  26. ^ "Harney". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  27. ^ "El Capitan". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  28. ^ "Mt Mansfield Highest Point". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  29. ^ "Spruce Knob". Monongahela National Forest. Archived from the original on 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  30. ^ "Gannett Peak Cairn". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  31. ^ "What is a geodetic datum?". Frequently Asked Questions about the National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved December 8, 2008.

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