Flattest States

What states fall flat under the eyes of geographers? While the mountainous landscapes of certain U.S. cities often find their way into postcards, a sizeable proportion of the United States boasts landscapes as smooth as a pancake. Using the 'State Elevation Difference' as an indicator, we decipher which states boast the minimal variability in their land forms.

• Florida, with an elevation difference of just 345, is the flattest state in the U.S., closely followed by Kentucky, Delaware, and Louisiana.
• Although Kansas is often thought of as having the flattest landscape, it in fact ranks 21st in terms of the elevation difference, indicating that it is flatter than many states but not the flattest.
• The states with the most significant elevation differences, indicating a more diverse and rugged topography, are Alaska, California, Washington, Hawaii, and Nevada.
• Notably, not all states in the Midwest and Great Plains regions have low elevation differences. For example, South Dakota, often associated with the flat geography of the Great Plains, ranks 34th on the list with a sizable elevation difference of 6,279.