Maine
5,269
Ranked in U.S.
#30
Last updated November 24, 2024
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 minimal variability in their landforms.
The ten states with the most consistent elevation, and hence flatter landscapes, are Florida, Kentucky, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Iowa.
Florida tops the list as the flattest state, with a mere 345 feet elevation difference across the entire state. Kentucky closely follows Florida as the second flattest state in the U.S., with a slightly higher elevation difference of 388 feet. The third flattest state is Delaware, with an elevation difference of 450 feet. Louisiana, famous for its vast wetlands, has an elevation difference of 542 feet, making it the fourth flattest state in the country.
The next two states on the list are Mississippi and Rhode Island, having an elevation difference of 807 and 814 feet, respectively. Indiana, regarded for its widespread farmlands, features a difference of 935 feet from its highest to lowest points.
The list continues with Illinois, where the elevation difference is 958 feet. The midwestern state Ohio, surprisingly beats Kansas and comes in as the ninth flattest state with an elevation difference of 1,093 feet. Wrapping up the list is Iowa, known for its cornfields, showing an elevation difference of 1,191 feet.
10 Flattest States based on the State Elevation Differences:
2,405
Ranked in U.S.
#17
20,335
Ranked in U.S.
#50
12,562
Ranked in U.S.
#45
2,700
Ranked in U.S.
#18
14,787
Ranked in U.S.
#49
11,125
Ranked in U.S.
#41
2,382
Ranked in U.S.
#16
Ranked in U.S.
#3
Ranked in U.S.
#1
4,787
Ranked in U.S.
#29
13,806
Ranked in U.S.
#47
11,955
Ranked in U.S.
#44
Ranked in U.S.
#8
Ranked in U.S.
#7
1,191
Ranked in U.S.
#10
3,363
Ranked in U.S.
#21
Ranked in U.S.
#2
Ranked in U.S.
#4
5,269
Ranked in U.S.
#30
3,363
Ranked in U.S.
#22
3,491
Ranked in U.S.
#23
1,411
Ranked in U.S.
#12
1,703
Ranked in U.S.
#14
Ranked in U.S.
#5
1,542
Ranked in U.S.
#13
11,007
Ranked in U.S.
#40
4,587
Ranked in U.S.
#26
12,667
Ranked in U.S.
#46
6,239
Ranked in U.S.
#33
1,804
Ranked in U.S.
#15
10,325
Ranked in U.S.
#38
5,348
Ranked in U.S.
#31
6,690
Ranked in U.S.
#36
2,756
Ranked in U.S.
#19
1,093
Ranked in U.S.
#9
4,688
Ranked in U.S.
#28
11,247
Ranked in U.S.
#42
3,215
Ranked in U.S.
#20
Ranked in U.S.
#6
3,563
Ranked in U.S.
#24
6,279
Ranked in U.S.
#34
6,470
Ranked in U.S.
#35
8,753
Ranked in U.S.
#37
11,526
Ranked in U.S.
#43
4,301
Ranked in U.S.
#25
5,732
Ranked in U.S.
#32
14,419
Ranked in U.S.
#48
4,625
Ranked in U.S.
#27
1,371
Ranked in U.S.
#11
10,712
Ranked in U.S.
#39
Region ↕ | Elevation Difference↕ |
---|---|
2,405 | |
20,335 | |
12,562 | |
2,700 | |
14,787 | |
11,125 | |
2,382 | |
450 | |
345 | |
4,787 | |
13,806 | |
11,955 | |
958 | |
935 | |
1,191 | |
3,363 | |
388 | |
542 | |
5,269 | |
3,363 | |
3,491 | |
1,411 | |
1,703 | |
807 | |
1,542 | |
11,007 | |
4,587 | |
12,667 | |
6,239 | |
1,804 | |
10,325 | |
5,348 | |
6,690 | |
2,756 | |
1,093 | |
4,688 | |
11,247 | |
3,215 | |
814 | |
3,563 | |
6,279 | |
6,470 | |
8,753 | |
11,526 | |
4,301 | |
5,732 | |
14,419 | |
4,625 | |
1,371 | |
10,712 |