List of U.S. states by elevation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The elevation of U.S. states may be described in several ways:[1] by the elevation of their highest point, the elevation of their lowest points, their mean elevation, and the difference between their highest points and lowest points. These different measures yield different answers to the question, "which is the highest/most rugged/lowest/flattest state?"
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 average altitude of any state, could also be considered a candidate for "highest state."
There is no clearcut lowest/flattest state: Florida has the lowest high point and the least difference between highest and lowest point; Delaware has the lowest mean elevation; and California has the lowest point in the United States (Badwater, at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level.)[3]
The list of highest points in each state is also important to the sport of highpointing, where a person attempts to visit the highest point in each of the 48 or 50 states.[4] As of 2006, 155 people successfully have climbed all 50 state highpoints, increasing at a rate of 10 people a year.[5] Roughly 200-300 people attend the Highpointers Club convention each year.[6]
In the list below, the elevations listed are in the NGVD29 vertical datum, unless otherwise noted. Also, the mean elevation for each state is accurate to the nearest 100 ft.
| 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 feet (735 m)[8] | Gulf of Mexico | 0 feet (0 m) | 500 feet (152 m) | 2,413 feet (735 m) |
| Alaska | Mount McKinley | 20,320 feet (6,194 m) | Pacific Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 1,900 feet (579 m) | 20,320 feet (6,194 m) |
| Arizona | Humphreys Peak | 12,637 feet (3,852 m)[9] | Colorado River | 70 feet (21 m) | 4,100 feet (1,250 m) | 12,567 feet (3,830 m) |
| Arkansas | Mount Magazine | 2,753 feet (839 m) | Ouachita River | 55 feet (17 m) | 650 feet (198 m) | 2,698 feet (822 m) |
| California | Mount Whitney | 14,505 feet (4,421 m)[10] | Death Valley | -282 feet (−86 m) | 2,900 feet (884 m) | 14,776 feet (4,504 m) |
| Colorado | Mount Elbert | 14,440 feet (4,401 m)[11] | Arikaree River[12] | 3,315 feet (1,010 m) | 6,800 feet (2,073 m) | 11,125 feet (3,391 m) |
| Connecticut | Mount Frissell | 2,380 feet (725 m) | Long Island Sound | 0 feet (0 m) | 500 feet (152 m) | 2,380 feet (725 m) |
| Delaware | Ebright Azimuth | 448 feet (137 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 60 feet (18 m) | 448 feet (137 m) |
| District of Columbia | Fort Reno | 410 feet (125 m) | Potomac River | 1 foot (0 m) | 150 feet (46 m) | 409 feet (125 m) |
| Florida | Britton Hill | 345 feet (105 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | 345 feet (105 m) |
| Georgia | Brasstown Bald | 4,784 feet (1,458 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 600 feet (183 m) | 4,784 feet (1,458 m) |
| Hawaii | Mauna Kea | 13,796 feet (4,205 m) | Pacific Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 3,030 feet (924 m) | 13,796 feet (4,205 m) |
| Idaho | Borah Peak | 12,662 feet (3,859 m) | Snake River | 710 feet (216 m) | 5,000 feet (1,524 m) | 11,952 feet (3,643 m) |
| Illinois | Charles Mound | 1,235 feet (376 m) | Mississippi River | 279 feet (85 m) | 600 feet (183 m) | 956 feet (291 m) |
| Indiana | Hoosier Hill | 1,257 feet (383 m) | Ohio River | 320 feet (98 m) | 700 feet (213 m) | 937 feet (286 m) |
| Iowa | Hawkeye Point | 1,670 feet (509 m) | Mississippi River | 480 feet (146 m) | 1,100 feet (335 m) | 1,190 feet (363 m) |
| Kansas | Mount Sunflower | 4,039 feet (1,231 m) | Verdigris River | 679 feet (207 m) | 2,000 feet (610 m) | 3,360 feet (1,024 m) |
| Kentucky | Black Mountain | 4,145 feet (1,263 m) | Mississippi River | 257 feet (78 m) | 750 feet (229 m) | 3,888 feet (1,185 m) |
| Louisiana | Driskill Mountain | 535 feet (163 m) | New Orleans | -8 feet (−2 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | 543 feet (166 m) |
| Maine | Mount Katahdin | 5,267 feet (1,605 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 600 feet (183 m) | 5,267 feet (1,605 m) |
| Maryland | Hoye-Crest | 3,360 feet (1,024 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 350 feet (107 m) | 3,360 feet (1,024 m) |
| Massachusetts | Mount Greylock | 3,487 feet (1,063 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 500 feet (152 m) | 3,487 feet (1,063 m) |
| Michigan | Mount Arvon | 1,979 feet (603 m) | Lake Erie | 571 feet (174 m) | 900 feet (274 m) | 1,408 feet (429 m) |
| Minnesota | Eagle Mountain | 2,301 feet (701 m) | Lake Superior | 601 feet (183 m) | 1,200 feet (366 m) | 1,700 feet (518 m) |
| Mississippi | Woodall Mountain | 806 feet (246 m) | Gulf of Mexico | 0 feet (0 m) | 300 feet (91 m) | 806 feet (246 m) |
| Missouri | Taum Sauk Mountain | 1,772 feet (540 m) | Saint Francis River | 230 feet (70 m) | 800 feet (244 m) | 1,542 feet (470 m) |
| Montana | Granite Peak | 12,799 feet (3,901 m) | Kootenai River | 1,800 feet (549 m) | 3,400 feet (1,036 m) | 10,999 feet (3,352 m) |
| Nebraska | Panorama Point | 5,424 feet (1,653 m) | Missouri River | 840 feet (256 m) | 2,600 feet (792 m) | 4,584 feet (1,397 m) |
| Nevada | Boundary Peak | 13,140 feet (4,005 m) | Colorado River | 479 feet (146 m) | 5,500 feet (1,676 m) | 12,661 feet (3,859 m) |
| New Hampshire | Mount Washington | 6,288 feet (1,917 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 1,000 feet (305 m) | 6,288 feet (1,917 m) |
| New Jersey | High Point | 1,803 feet (550 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 250 feet (76 m) | 1,803 feet (550 m) |
| New Mexico | Wheeler Peak | 13,161 feet (4,011 m) | Red Bluff Reservoir | 2,842 feet (866 m) | 5,700 feet (1,737 m) | 10,319 feet (3,145 m) |
| New York | Mount Marcy | 5,344 feet (1,629 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 1,000 feet (305 m) | 5,344 feet (1,629 m) |
| North Carolina | Mount Mitchell | 6,684 feet (2,037 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 700 feet (213 m) | 6,684 feet (2,037 m) |
| North Dakota | White Butte | 3,506 feet (1,069 m) | Red River | 750 feet (229 m) | 1,900 feet (579 m) | 2,756 feet (840 m) |
| Ohio | Campbell Hill | 1,549 feet (472 m) | Ohio River | 455 feet (139 m) | 850 feet (259 m) | 1,094 feet (333 m) |
| Oklahoma | Black Mesa | 4,973 feet (1,516 m) | Little River | 289 feet (88 m) | 1,300 feet (396 m) | 4,684 feet (1,428 m) |
| Oregon | Mount Hood | 11,249 feet (3,429 m) | Pacific Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 3,300 feet (1,006 m) | 11,249 feet (3,429 m) |
| Pennsylvania | Mount Davis | 3,213 feet (979 m) | Delaware River | 0 feet (0 m) | 1,100 feet (335 m) | 3,213 feet (979 m) |
| Rhode Island | Jerimoth Hill | 812 feet (247 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 350 feet (107 m) | 812 feet (247 m) |
| South Carolina | Sassafras Mountain | 3,560 feet (1,085 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 350 feet (107 m) | 3,560 feet (1,085 m) |
| South Dakota | Harney Peak | 7,242 feet (2,207 m) | Big Stone Lake | 966 feet (294 m) | 2,200 feet (671 m) | 6,276 feet (1,913 m) |
| Tennessee | Clingmans Dome | 6,643 feet (2,025 m) | Mississippi River | 178 feet (54 m) | 900 feet (274 m) | 6,465 feet (1,971 m) |
| Texas | Guadalupe Peak | 8,749 feet (2,667 m) | Gulf of Mexico | 0 feet (0 m) | 1,700 feet (518 m) | 8,749 feet (2,667 m) |
| Utah | Kings Peak | 13,528 feet (4,123 m) | Beaver Dam Wash | 2,000 feet (610 m) | 6,100 feet (1,859 m) | 11,528 feet (3,514 m) |
| Vermont | Mount Mansfield | 4,393 feet (1,339 m) | Lake Champlain | 95 feet (29 m) | 1,000 feet (305 m) | 4,298 feet (1,310 m) |
| Virginia | Mount Rogers | 5,729 feet (1,746 m) | Atlantic Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 950 feet (290 m) | 5,729 feet (1,746 m) |
| Washington | Mount Rainier | 14,410 feet (4,392 m) | Pacific Ocean | 0 feet (0 m) | 1,700 feet (518 m) | 14,410 feet (4,392 m) |
| West Virginia | Spruce Knob | 4,861 feet (1,482 m) | Potomac River | 240 feet (73 m) | 1,500 feet (457 m) | 4,621 feet (1,408 m) |
| Wisconsin | Timms Hill | 1,951 feet (595 m) | Lake Michigan | 579 feet (176 m) | 1,050 feet (320 m) | 1,372 feet (418 m) |
| Wyoming | Gannett Peak | 13,804 feet (4,207 m) | Belle Fourche River | 3,099 feet (945 m) | 6,700 feet (2,042 m) | 10,705 feet (3,263 m) |
[edit] See also
- Highest mountain peaks of the United States
- List of countries by highest point
- List of highest points of Canadian provinces and territories
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f "Extreme and Mean Elevations by State and Other Areas". United States Census (2004). Retrieved on 2008-11-27.
- ^ a b c "U.S. State Highpoints". summitpost.org. Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
- ^ "Badwater". United States Geological Survey (2004-01-13). Retrieved on 27 November 2008.
- ^ Holmes, Don W. (2000). Highpoints of the United States: A Guide to the Fifty State Summits, University of Utah Press. ISBN 0874806453.
- ^ Regenold, Stephen (June 10, 2006). "Seeing the highpoints of every state", Associated press. Retrieved on 4 December 2008.
- ^ "Highpointers Club Frequently Asked Questions". highpointers.org. Retrieved on 2008-12-04.
- ^ a b "U.S. State High Points". peakbagger.com. Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
- ^ "Cheehahaw". NGS Data Sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved on 2008-10-12.
- ^ "Frisco". NGS Data Sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved on 2008-11-13.
- ^ "Whitney". NGS Data Sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ Lipsher, Steve (July 7, 2002). "No tall tale: State higher than thought", Denver Post. Retrieved on 19 April 2007.
- ^ "Arikaree River - lowest point in Colorado". Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
[edit] External links
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