ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY
ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY
Elevation
Elevation
Elevation is distance above sea level
Grades
5 - 8
Subjects
Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Physical Geography
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Elevation is distance above sea level.
Elevations are usually measured in meters or feet. They can be shown on maps by contour lines, which connect points with the same elevation; by bands of color; or by numbers giving the exact elevations of particular points on the Earth's surface. Maps that show elevations are called topographic maps.
Elevation influences climate, as well as where and how people live. Most of the worlds people live on coastal plains at elevations of 150 meters (500 feet) or less. Some cultures have adapted to higher elevations. In Tibet, a region in central Asia, people live at elevations as great as 5,334 meters (17,500 feet). Above this elevation, the climate becomes too cold for growing crops, and there is also not enough oxygen in the air to sustain human life.
Fast Fact
Highs and Lows
The Earth's highest elevation point is at the summit of Mt. Everest in Nepal. It measures 8,848 meters (29,035 feet). The Earth's lowest land elevation point is at the Dead Sea, located at the border of Israel and Jordan. Its shores have an elevation of 420 meters (1,385 feet) below sea level.
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Last Updated
May 30, 2025
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