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There's been many threads discussing scenery, topography, etc. of different states and regions of the country.
I've decided to take the wikipedia page of highest points per state and decided to most accurately assess a states topography by its topographic range. Obviously states that have a coast, the lowest point IS sea level. However, if its inland, it will be some height above sea level.
I took the elevation range and grouped them so that they are grouped by natural breaks. Here is what I came up with. Note there are spaces where there are natural breaks. I think this might be the best measure of a states topography and which states are similar.
Note that obviously there are some states that are grouped that may not seem similar like most states that have a portion of the Appalachians have a similar range as the Great Plains states, even though the Plains states elevation change is gradual and less dramatic.
There's been many threads discussing scenery, topography, etc. of different states and regions of the country.
I've decided to take the wikipedia page of highest points per state and decided to most accurately assess a states topography by its topographic range. Obviously states that have a coast, the lowest point IS sea level.* However, if its inland, it will be some height above sea level.
* Except for Death Valley in California, which is 282 feet below sea level.
Interesting stats! But I also don't think those numbers tell the whole story. Elevation change does not necessarily correlate with dramatic scenery. Many of the plains states gain a LOT of elevation as you travel from east to west, but it is just a gradual slope that reaches a plateau at the high plains. (Disclaimer: I'm not saying plains states are boring. I like those states).
For example, Kansas and Maryland have almost the exact same amount of elevation change, but Maryland goes from sea level in the east to true mountains on the far western end. Kansas has some interesting topography (in my opinion) but it certainly doesn't have anything like the Appalachians in Maryland.
Interesting stats! But I also don't think those numbers tell the whole story. Elevation change does not necessarily correlate with dramatic scenery. Many of the plains states gain a LOT of elevation as you travel from east to west, but it is just a gradual slope that reaches a plateau at the high plains. (Disclaimer: I'm not saying plains states are boring. I like those states).
For example, Kansas and Maryland have almost the exact same amount of elevation change, but Maryland goes from sea level in the east to true mountains on the far western end. Kansas has some interesting topography (in my opinion) but it certainly doesn't have anything like the Appalachians in Maryland.
Good point. Although I also think it's important to note that the gradual but large elevation changes in Plains states has a much more profound effect on climate and biomes in plains states such as Kansas than in Appalachian mountain states such as Maryland, even though the latter category has much more jarring topography.
I'll never forget driving 4 hours from San Francisco to Fish Camp (near Yosemite). We left and it was 55 degrees and drizzling. Stopped in Lemoore, CA to pick up a friend and it was 80 and sunny. Drove up into the mountains and by the time we reached the house, it was 30 and snowing.
We don't get variation like that out East.
And I do love our dramatic scenery. I love that you can have dinner in an oceanfront restaurant in Maine and take in views of Mt. Washington, NH. A change in elevation of 6,288. Not as dramatic as Mt. Hood or Mt. Ranier, but still pretty impressive.
I'll never forget driving 4 hours from San Francisco to Fish Camp (near Yosemite). We left and it was 55 degrees and drizzling. Stopped in Lemoore, CA to pick up a friend and it was 80 and sunny. Drove up into the mountains and by the time we reached the house, it was 30 and snowing.
We don't get variation like that out East.
And I do love our dramatic scenery. I love that you can have dinner in an oceanfront restaurant in Maine and take in views of Mt. Washington, NH. A change in elevation of 6,288. Not as dramatic as Mt. Hood or Mt. Ranier, but still pretty impressive.
No not quite like that no doubt, but I have seen some pretty dramatic changes here in east TN. In the valley it may be 60 degrees, but the mountains can be 30 degrees colder. In winter you can often see them snowcapped. The Smoky Mountains are one of the largest areas of high elevation in the east, the weather up over 5000-6000 feet is quite different than the typical southeast weather that is in the lower elevations surrounding them. I know Mount Washington up north also has some very dramatic weather.
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