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
Those who try to summit the highest point in each U.S. state and territory are known as highpointers.[2]
Elevations
Minor outlying islands
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)
Lowpoint gallery
See also
- Highpointing
- List of elevation extremes by country
- List of elevation extremes by region
- Lists of highest points
- List of highest U.S. county high points
- List of mountain peaks of the United States
- List of the highest major summits of the United States
- List of the most prominent summits of the United States
- List of the most isolated major summits of the United States
- List of highest counties in the United States
- List of highest United States cities by state
Notes
- A high point may be (1.) a topographic summit, or (2.) a point on a border.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. Federally designated as Mount McKinley, 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
- "Highest and Lowest Elevations". United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- Frick-Wright, Peter (January 15, 2019). "The Mad, Obsessive Quest to Summit the World's Highest Points". Outside Online.
- "Approximate mean elevation in each state or territory of the United States as of 2005". Statista.
- "CHEEHAHAW". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Cheaha Mountain, Alabama". Peakbagger.com.
- "Denali, Alaska". Peakbagger.com.
- "Lata Mountain, American Samoa". Peakbagger.com.
- "FRISCO". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Humphreys Peak, Arizona". Peakbagger.com.
- "MAG". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Magazine Mountain, Arkansas". Peakbagger.com.
- "WHITNEY". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Mount Whitney, California". Peakbagger.com.
- "SALTON SEA NR WESTMORLAND CA". United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- "MOUNT ELBERT". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Mount Elbert, Colorado". Peakbagger.com.
- "Mount Frissell-South Slope, Connecticut/Massachusetts". Peakbagger.com.
- "Bear Mountain, Connecticut". Peakbagger.com.
- "Ebright Azimuth, Delaware". Peakbagger.com.
- "Highest Point in Delaware". Delaware Geological Survey. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011.
- "Regarding the highest point in Delaware". Delaware Repeater Association. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011.
- "Point Reno, District of Columbia". Peakbagger.com.
- Dvorak, Petula. "D.C.'s Puny Peak Enough to Pump Up 'Highpointers'". The Washington Post.
- "Britton Hill, Florida". Peakbagger.com.
- "Brasstown Bald, Georgia". Peakbagger.com.
- "Mount Lamlam, Guam". Peakbagger.com.
- "SUMMIT USGS 1977". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Mauna Kea, Hawaii". Peakbagger.com.
- "Tallest mountain". Guinness World Records.
- Kaye, Grant D. "Using GIS to estimate the total volume of Mauna Loa volcano, Hawai'i". Archived from the original on January 25, 2009.
- "BEAUTY RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Borah Peak, Idaho". Peakbagger.com.
- "CHARLES". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Charles Mound, Illinois". Peakbagger.com.
- "Hoosier Hill, Indiana". Peakbagger.com.
- "Hawkeye Point, Iowa". Peakbagger.com.
- "Mount Sunflower, Kansas". Peakbagger.com.
- "Black Mountain, Kentucky". Peakbagger.com.
- "Driskill Mountain, Louisiana". Peakbagger.com.
- "KATAHDIN 2". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Katahdin, Maine". Peakbagger.com.
- "Backbone Mountain, Maryland". Peakbagger.com.
- "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.
- "Mount Arvon, Michigan". Peakbagger.com.
- "Eagle Mountain, Minnesota". Peakbagger.com.
- "KNOB RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Woodall Mountain, Mississippi". Peakbagger.com.
- "Taum Sauk Mountain, Missouri". Peakbagger.com.
- "GRANITE PEAK". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Granite Peak, Montana". Peakbagger.com.
- "Panorama Point, Nebraska". Peakbagger.com.
- "BOUNDARY". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Boundary Peak, Nevada". Peakbagger.com.
- "MT WASHINGTON RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Mount Washington, New Hampshire". Peakbagger.com.
- "High Point, New Jersey". Peakbagger.com.
- "WHEELER". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Wheeler Peak, New Mexico". Peakbagger.com.
- "MARCY". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Mount Marcy, New York". Peakbagger.com.
- "Mount Mitchell, North Carolina". Peakbagger.com.
- "White Butte, North Dakota". Peakbagger.com.
- "Agrihan High Point, Northern Marianas". Peakbagger.com.
- Frick-Wright, Peter (January 15, 2019). "The Obsessive Quest of High Pointers". Outside.
- "Campbell Hill, Ohio". Peakbagger.com.
- "Black Mesa, Oklahoma". Peakbagger.com.
- "MOUNT HOOD HIGHEST POINT". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Mount Hood, Oregon". Peakbagger.com.
- "Mount Davis, Pennsylvania". Peakbagger.com.
- "Cerro de Punta, Puerto Rico". Peakbagger.com.
- "Jerimoth Hill, Rhode Island". Peakbagger.com.
- "Sassafras Mountain, North Carolina/South Carolina". Peakbagger.com.
- "BLACK ELK PEAK". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Black Elk Peak, South Dakota". Peakbagger.com.
- "Clingmans Dome, North Carolina/Tennessee". Peakbagger.com.
- "EL CAPITAN". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Guadalupe Peak, Texas". Peakbagger.com.
- "Kings Peak, Utah". Peakbagger.com.
- "MT MANSFIELD HIGHEST POINT". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Mount Mansfield, Vermont". Peakbagger.com.
- "Crown Mountain, U.S. Virgin Islands". Peakbagger.com.
- "ROGERS RESET". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Mount Rogers, Virginia". Peakbagger.com.
- "Mount Rainier, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- "SPRUCE KNOB CAIRN 1956". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Spruce Knob, West Virginia". Peakbagger.com.
- "Timms Hill, Wisconsin". Peakbagger.com.
- "GANNETT PEAK CAIRN". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce.
- "Gannett Peak, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com.
- "United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021.
- "Wake Island". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. August 2, 2022. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022.