List of U.S. states and territories by elevation
This list includes the topographic elevations of each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.[1]
The elevation of a geographic area may be stated in several ways. These include:
- The maximum elevation of the area (high point);[a]
- The minimum elevation of the area (low point);[b]
- The arithmetic mean elevation of the area (statistical mean elevation);[c]
- The median elevation of the area (statistical 50% elevation);[d] and
- The elevation range of the area.[e]
All topographic elevations are adjusted to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). All geographic coordinates are adjusted to the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS 84). The mean elevation for each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are accurate to the nearest 100 feet (30 m). Mean elevation data is not available for the other U.S. territories.
Cultural significance
[edit]Those who try to summit the highest point in each U.S. state and territory are known as highpointers.[2]
Elevations
[edit]Minor outlying islands
[edit]The highest points in the U.S. minor outlying islands, mostly unnamed:
- Baker Island high point – 26 feet (8 m)[92]
- Howland Island high point – 10 feet (3 m)[92]
- Jarvis Island high point – 23 feet (7 m)[92]
- Johnston Atoll, Sand Island high point – 33 feet (10 m)[92]
- Kingman Reef high point – less than 7 feet (2 m)[92]
- Midway Atoll, Sand Island high point – 50 feet (15 m)[92] – The highest point of the U.S. minor outlying islands in the Pacific Ocean.
- Navassa Island high point – 280 feet (85 m)[91] – The highest point of all the U.S. minor outlying islands.
- Palmyra Atoll high point – 10 feet (3 m)[92]
- Wake Island high point – 26 feet (8 m)[93]
Highpoint gallery (in order of elevation)
[edit]- 2. Mount Whitney in California
- 3. Mount Elbert in Colorado
- 4. Mount Rainier in Washington
- 5. Gannett Peak in Wyoming
- 7. Kings Peak in Utah
- 8. Wheeler Peak in New Mexico
- 9. Boundary Peak in Nevada
- 10. Granite Peak in Montana
- 11. Borah Peak in Idaho
- 12. Humphreys Peak in Arizona
- 13. Mount Hood in Oregon
- 14. Guadalupe Peak in Texas
- 15. Black Elk Peak in South Dakota (formerly Harney Peak)
- 16. Mount Mitchell in North Carolina
- 18. Mount Washington in New Hampshire
- 19. Mount Rogers in Virginia
- 20. Panorama Point in Nebraska
- 21. Mount Marcy in New York
- 22. Mount Katahdin in Maine
- 23. Black Mesa in Oklahoma
- 24. Spruce Knob in West Virginia (background mountain)
- 25. Brasstown Bald in Georgia (background mountain)
- 26. Mount Mansfield in Vermont
- 27. Cerro de Punta in Puerto Rico
- 28. Black Mountain in Kentucky
- 29. Mount Sunflower in Kansas
- 30. Sassafras Mountain in South Carolina
- 31. White Butte in North Dakota
- 32. Mount Greylock in Massachusetts
- 33. Hoye-Crest in Maryland
- 34. Mount Davis in Pennsylvania (background mountain)
- 35. Mount Agrihan in the Northern Mariana Islands
- 36. Lata Mountain in American Samoa
- 37. Mount Magazine in Arkansas
- 38. Cheaha Mountain in Alabama
- 39. Southern Slope of Mount Frissell in Connecticut
- 40. Eagle Mountain in Minnesota
- 41. Mount Arvon in Michigan
- 42. Timms Hill in Wisconsin
- 43. High Point in New Jersey
- 44. Taum Sauk Mountain in Missouri
- 45. Hawkeye Point in Iowa
- 46. Crown Mountain in the US Virgin Islands
- 47. Campbell Hill in Ohio
- 48. Mount Lamlam in Guam
- 49. Hoosier Hill in Indiana
- 50. Charles Mound in Illinois
- 51. Jerimoth Hill in Rhode Island
- 52. Woodall Mountain in Mississippi
- 53. Driskill Mountain in Louisiana
- 54. Ebright Azimuth in Delaware
- 55. Point Reno in the District of Columbia
- 56. Britton Hill in Florida
- 57. The highest point of Navassa Island is the highest point of all the US Minor Outlying Islands.
Lowpoint gallery
[edit]- The Badwater Basin in Death Valley is the lowest point in California, the United States, and all of North America.
- The lowpoints of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, the US Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, and the US Minor Outlying Islands are all at sea level.
- The Arikaree River at the Colorado-Kansas border is the lowest point in Colorado, and the highest state lowpoint in the United States.
See also
[edit]- Highpointing
- List of elevation extremes by country
- List of elevation extremes by region
- Lists of highest points
- List of highest counties in the United States
- List of highest United States cities by state
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b A high point may be (1.) a topographic summit, or (2.) a point on a border.
- ^ a b A low point may be (1.) the border crossing of a gulch, stream, or river; or (2.) the shore of a reservoir, lake, or ocean; or (3.) the bottom of an endorheic basin. The elevation of a stream, river, reservoir, or lake will vary seasonally. The bottom of an endorheic basin may fill with water.
- ^ a b The mean elevation of an area is the arithmetic average of all point elevations in the area.
- ^ The median elevation of an area is the median of all point elevations in the area.
- ^ a b The elevation range of an area is the maximum elevation minus the minimum elevation.
- ^ Coordinates are adjusted to the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS 84).
- ^ Alaska has the highest point in North America and the greatest elevation range of any U.S. state.
- ^ The summit of Denali is the highest point in the United States and all of North America. Denali is both the third most topographically prominent summit and the third most topographically isolated summit on Earth. Denali is the highest point in the entire Arctic Ocean Basin.
- ^ Mount Magazine is the highest summit of the Ozarks.
- ^ California has the lowest point in North America. California also has the highest point and greatest elevation range of any U.S. state except Alaska.
- ^ Mount Whitney is the highest summit of the Sierra Nevada. Mount Whitney is the highest point of both the San Joaquin Basin and the Great Basin.
- ^ The Badwater Basin, an endorheic basin in Death Valley, is the lowest point in the United States and all of North America. The Salton Sea, an endorheic basin with the lowest water level in North America, is currently near the −239.6-foot (−73.0 m) level.[14]
- ^ Colorado has the highest mean elevation and the highest low point of any U.S. state.
- ^ Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada. Mount Elbert is the highest point in the Mississippi River Basin.
- ^ The point where the Arikaree River flows out of Colorado and into Kansas is the highest low point of any U.S. state, higher than the high points of 18 states and the District of Columbia.
- ^ Connecticut is the only U.S. state with a high point that is not a topographic summit, although several other high points have a topographic prominence of less than 50 feet (15 m). The highest summit in Connecticut is Bear Mountain, approximately 1.45 miles (2.33 km) south-southeast; its exact elevation is disputed, but it is at least 60 feet (18 m) lower than the highest point on Mount Frissell in Connecticut.[18]
- ^ Delaware has the lowest mean elevation of any U.S. state or the District of Columbia.
- ^ Florida has the lowest high point and the smallest elevation range of any U.S. state or the District of Columbia.
- ^ Britton Hill is the lowest high point of any U.S. state or the District of Columbia.
- ^ Although only 1,332 feet (406 m) above sea level, the summit of Mount Lamlam is 195 miles (314 km) northeast and 37,160 feet (11,330 m) above the Challenger Deep.
- ^ Mauna Kea is the highest summit of the island of Hawaiʻi and the entire North Pacific Ocean. Hawaiʻi is second only to New Guinea as the tallest island on Earth. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain on Earth if measured from its base at −19,684 feet (−6,000 m) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean to its summit at 13,796 feet (4,205 m) for a total rise of 33,480 feet (10,205 m).[29] Neighboring Mauna Loa is the most voluminous mountain on Earth.[30]
- ^ Charles Mound is approximately 1,300 feet (400 m) south of the Wisconsin border.
- ^ Mount Sunflower is approximately 2,630 feet (800 m) east of the Colorado border.
- ^ Louisiana is the only U.S. region with land below sea level outside of California.
- ^ Mount Katahdin is the highest summit of the Longfellow Mountains.
- ^ Mount Greylock is the highest summit of the Berkshires.
- ^ The summit of Mount Arvon is the highest point on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
- ^ Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest summit of the St. Francois Mountains.
- ^ Granite Peak is the highest summit of the Beartooth Mountains.
- ^ Panorama Point is approximately 2,210 feet (670 m) north of the Colorado border.
- ^ The summit of Boundary Peak is approximately 1,440 feet (440 m) northeast of the California border.
- ^ Mount Washington is the highest summit of the White Mountains. The summit of Mount Washington is the highest point on the northeastern Northern American continent.
- ^ Wheeler Peak is the highest summit of the Taos Mountains.
- ^ Mount Marcy is the highest summit of the Adirondack Mountains.
- ^ Mount Mitchell is the highest summit of the Appalachian Mountains. The summit of Mount Mitchell is the highest point on the eastern Northern American continent.
- ^ The summit of Mount Agrihan is the highest point in the Northern Mariana Islands and all of Micronesia.[65]
- ^ Mount Hood is the highest summit of the Oregon Cascades.
- ^ Puerto Rico has the highest point and greatest elevation range of any of the U.S. territories.
- ^ Cerro de Punta is the highest point in any of the U.S. territories.
- ^ Black Elk Peak is the highest summit of the Black Hills.
- ^ Kuwohi is the highest summit of the Great Smoky Mountains.
- ^ Guadalupe Peak is the highest summit of the Guadalupe Mountains.
- ^ Kings Peak is the highest summit of the Uinta Mountains and the Western Rocky Mountains.
- ^ Mount Mansfield is the highest summit of the Green Mountains.
- ^ Mount Rainier is the highest summit of the Cascade Range of the United States and Canada.
- ^ Gannett Peak is the highest summit of the Wind River Range and the Central Rocky Mountains. Gannett Peak is the highest point in the Green River Basin.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Highest and Lowest Elevations". United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ "About HighPointer". HighPointer. 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ "Approximate mean elevation in each state or territory of the United States as of 2005". Statista. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
- ^ "CHEEHAHAW". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Cheaha Mountain, Alabama". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Denali, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Lata Mountain, American Samoa". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "FRISCO". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Humphreys Peak, Arizona". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "MAG". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Magazine Mountain, Arkansas". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "WHITNEY". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Whitney, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "SALTON SEA NR WESTMORLAND CA". United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "MOUNT ELBERT". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Elbert, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Frissell-South Slope, Connecticut/Massachusetts". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Bear Mountain, Connecticut". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ "Ebright Azimuth, Delaware". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Highest Point in Delaware". Delaware Geological Survey. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Regarding the highest point in Delaware". Delaware Repeater Association. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Point Reno, District of Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Dvorak, Petula. "D.C.'s Puny Peak Enough to Pump Up 'Highpointers'". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ "Britton Hill, Florida". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Brasstown Bald, Georgia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Lamlam, Guam". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "SUMMIT USGS 1977". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mauna Kea, Hawaii". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Tallest mountain". Guinness World Records. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ Kaye, Grant D. "Using GIS to estimate the total volume of Mauna Loa volcano, Hawai'i". Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "BEAUTY RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Borah Peak, Idaho". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "CHARLES". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Charles Mound, Illinois". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Hoosier Hill, Indiana". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Hawkeye Point, Iowa". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Sunflower, Kansas". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Black Mountain, Kentucky". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Driskill Mountain, Louisiana". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "KATAHDIN 2". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Katahdin, Maine". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Backbone Mountain, Maryland". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "GREYLOCK RM 1 RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- ^ "Mount Greylock, Massachusetts". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Arvon, Michigan". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Eagle Mountain, Minnesota". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "KNOB RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- ^ "Woodall Mountain, Mississippi". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Taum Sauk Mountain, Missouri". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "GRANITE PEAK". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Granite Peak, Montana". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Panorama Point, Nebraska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "BOUNDARY". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Boundary Peak, Nevada". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "MT WASHINGTON RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Washington, New Hampshire". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "High Point, New Jersey". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "WHEELER". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Wheeler Peak, New Mexico". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "MARCY". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Marcy, New York". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Mitchell, North Carolina". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "White Butte, North Dakota". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Agrihan High Point, Northern Marianas". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Frick-Wright, Peter (January 15, 2019). "The Obsessive Quest of High Pointers". Outside. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "Campbell Hill, Ohio". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Black Mesa, Oklahoma". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "MOUNT HOOD HIGHEST POINT". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Hood, Oregon". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Davis, Pennsylvania". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Cerro de Punta, Puerto Rico". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Jerimoth Hill, Rhode Island". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Sassafras Mountain, North Carolina/South Carolina". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "BLACK ELK PEAK". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- ^ "Black Elk Peak, South Dakota". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Clingmans Dome, North Carolina/Tennessee". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "EL CAPITAN". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Guadalupe Peak, Texas". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Kings Peak, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "MT MANSFIELD HIGHEST POINT". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Mansfield, Vermont". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Crown Mountain, U.S. Virgin Islands". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "ROGERS RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Rogers, Virginia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Mount Rainier, Washington". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "SPRUCE KNOB CAIRN 1956". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Spruce Knob, West Virginia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Timms Hill, Wisconsin". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "GANNETT PEAK CAIRN". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "Gannett Peak, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "Wake Island". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 2 August 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
External links
[edit]