Hilliest/Flattest Major Cities? (live, map, compare, population)
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The west side of Denver is quite hilly, especially the NW, as are the western suburbs.
Yes. People seem to think that Denver's completely flat (like Miami, Houston, Chicago, etc) just because it's on the plains. Denver the city is pretty flat, however many suburbs aren't flat what so ever. The only area there aren't really hills is by the airport, which is sad because that's what people see first.
If that list is true, then San Francisco has only two streets steeper than Canton Avenue, not five. By the way, are those two streets open to the public?
Not only does SF have steeper streets, and *a lot* more streets above that really steep 25 degree grade, these aren't half-block "driveway" looking streets (like Canton - which honestly looks more like someone's rural driveway). A lot of the steep streets in SF are lined with 5-20 story buildings. No other city can boast that.
SF also has lots of peaks that are a good bit higher than any in Pittsburgh. And these peaks have development all or mostly all the way up to the top. Pittsburgh's biggest hills are mostly forested.
Leaving the "super steep", I can't even think of any other city having a street like California St. It's only a 376 ft peak over ~5 city blocks, but it's packing 400+ ft skyscrapers, signature hotels, and 55,000 ppsm density along it. Anyone who has walked from Union Square or the financial district up Nob Hill knows how good of a work out that is for your glutes and thighs
I should add the streets going from Marina to Pac Heights, Russian Hill, and all around Twin Peaks are pretty amazing. Bullet's famous car chase scene with the hills was filmed coming down from Pac Heights into Marina, I believe. And lots of those city in the backdrop car commercials are filmed on Twin Peaks (or Marin Headlands). I don't think anything comes close to SF. Simply having hills and a few really steep streets is not enough - the cityscape has to be splayed ON those hills to compete.
I think there needs some clarification between cities that have some really steep inclines for some of its streets and then large areas of flatter terrain versus cities that have gradual inclines on nearly every street.
Los Angeles, for instance, has very steep streets around the Hills, but then the greater LA Basin is fairly flat.
Then you have SF and Seattle which have hilly, inclined streets throughout the entire city. Biking in Seattle is quite the workout because you are always either going up pr down a hill.
I don't think anything comes close to SF. Simply having hills and a few really steep streets is not enough - the cityscape has to be splayed ON those hills to compete.
With its lowest point being sea level and its highest point being 5,074 ft, I don't think any other cities can touch Los Angeles' elevation differential. San Francisco's is 934 ft (sea level to 934 ft) and Pittsburgh is 660 ft (710 to 1,370 ft).
The next biggest elevation differential after LA is Honolulu with 4,020 ft (sea level to 4,020 ft).
With its lowest point being sea level and its highest point being 5,074 ft, I don't think any other cities can touch Los Angeles' elevation differential. San Francisco's is 934 ft (sea level to 934 ft) and Pittsburgh is 660 ft (710 to 1,370 ft).
The next biggest elevation differential after LA is Honolulu with 4,020 ft (sea level to 4,020 ft).
Salt Lake has a greater elevation differential in the city limits. The official elevation (I believe at the airport) is 4226 ft according to wikipedia. Grandview Peak is located in the city limits as well, with at top elevation of 9414 ft. Elevation difference of 5188 ft. Salt Lake is not listed on your list because it is not one of the 50 largest cites. The city is rather small considering the 2.3 million in the area.
Having said that, SLC is not a hilly city overall. Most of the valley is fairly flat with the mountains rising abruptly.
Yes, the western major cities such as SLC and Denver can indeed be quite flat. How else do you think major cities could be built in the intercontinental west?
I wouldn't necessarily group Minneapolis and St. Paul together on this. Minneapolis is pretty much flat, f course, but I wouldn't consider St. Paul to be flat by any means. Large parts of the city are very flat, like most cities, but Downtown and the areas surrounding it and the river are actually very hilly. It is very different than Minneapolis.
I wouldn't necessarily group Minneapolis and St. Paul together on this. Minneapolis is pretty much flat, f course, but I wouldn't consider St. Paul to be flat by any means. Large parts of the city are very flat, like most cities, but Downtown and the areas surrounding it and the river are actually very hilly. It is very different than Minneapolis.
If you don't think St. Paul belongs on that list, then neither does Denver. It's hillier than St. Paul. Also disagree with Omaha. Whoever put it on the list has never been there.
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