geography question

[cindycat]

Originally Posted by scaredofsnakes

The one Hill that is in Poteau is the closest one to being a mountain. I forgot how much but it was like just about a foot or so being a mountain...over the Talimena Drive you will see some beautiful hills..Go during the fall when the leaves are changing colors.

That's Cavanal Hill, 1999 feet. I sent a postcard of it to a Dutch friend several years ago, after he was kidding us about the flatlands - even though his country is mostly flat, too. The Talimena Trail from Talihina, OK., to Mena, Ark., is pretty.

It IS relative, as nmnita said - this flat versus hilly discussion. We vacationed in the Pacific northwest for many years, loved it and decided to move here two years ago. Yes, it's beautiful, with views of mountains and water but we're ready to get back to the flatlands and wide open spaces, with one-story houses and four-lane roads.

[Guthrie Kid]

Indeed it is all realative. The thing about elevation is you have to consider the elevation at the BASE of the alleged hill or mountain. Remember that Southeast Oklahoma is dang near at sea level thus the elevation of the moutain might be misleading. For instance, Denver is called the mile high city because it sits at ~five thousand feet, that is basically the starting elevation of the rockies. They already have a 5K foot advantage...hope this makes sense?

[mrdunn]

Synopsis, I agree with you. Oklahoma has several mountain ranges including the Arbuckles, Wichitas, Ouachitas, and the Ozark Plateau. The highest point is of course Black Mesa in the Panhandle. Now granted, we don't have anything like the Rockies or even the Smokies for that matter, but they are mountains just the same. The Wichita Mountains in SW Oklahoma are lots of fun if you like biking and climbing.

[eddie gein]

The confusion about "mountains" in Oklahoma lies within the fact that Oklahoma's "mountains" are ancient mountains that once rivaled the Rockies of today.

Specifically a mountain is defined as being 2000 feet in relief (the distance from the bottom of the mountain to the top).

With this definition the only "true" mountains in Oklahoma are the Ouachitas which have spots that meet this criteria.

As for Cavanal hill, it's claim is that it is the world's highest hill in that it is 1999 feet above the valley floor. However this claim is dubious at best.

Cavanal's elevation is listed at it's peak at 2385 ft. The city of Poteau sits at the base of the hill and it's elevation is listed at feet. Do the math.

[jessaka]

What they call mountains in Arkansas and Oklahoma we call hills in CA. I understand why some say that even OKC is flat, but I felt it was rolling hills. What I call flat is the panhandle of Florida and maybe all of Florida. I hated living there. I grew up in the town of Paso Robles with hills around the town, and so I love towns in valleys. So Tahlequah suits me just fine. I just need to see rolling hills, and we live on a rolling hill. I don't need mountains and don't prefer them at all since I am not into pines at all. In fact I would not allow any on my property. Sure they are pretty but nothing grows under them except ferns. They are also pretty in the snow, but so are my trees.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by scaredofsnakes

There are no mountains in Oklahoma period.. It is only Hills. The one Hill that is in Poteau is the closest one to being a mountain. I forgot how much but it was like just about a foot or so being a mountain. It is nice drive though up to the top of it. Everyone should be sure an go there if your close to Poteau. An as for OKC I wouldn't give a penny for the whole entire town. To me it looks dirty an trashy when you come into the town no matter where your coming from.. As for the local police department an county please beware of them also. They will frame you if their given a chance. I know from experience, trust me on that one. Tulsa is a much cleaner town to go to an live in. But if your wanting to be in the hills go further east towards Poteau.. And if you haven't ever driven over the Talimena Drive you will see some beautiful hills..Go during the fall when the leaves are changing colors.

Next time I climb Poteau, I will be sure to bring a rock to make it an official mountain.

Oh, also I would like to say thank you for your pennies when you came to my town. It always helps with our sales tax to create major projects that take over a billion to complete. Thank You, please come back. The NBA is coming soon.

[Woodman61]

Plenty of mountains or very tall hills in Oklahoma. Black Mesa is top at 4,973 feet (ASL?), Cavanal is way down the list at 2,385'?

Oklahoma Highest Named Summits
Feature Name Elevation County Latitude Longitude Map

Black Mesa 4973 Cimarron 365950N 1030800W Wedding Cake Butte
Wolf Mountain 4137 Cimarron 365215N 1023017W Flagg Springs
Rich Mountain 2662 Le Flore 344133N 0942629W Mountain Fork
Antelope Hills 2604 Roger Mills 355415N 0995303W Antelope Hills
Sugar Loaf Mountain 2564 Le Flore 350134N 0942806W Hartford
Wilton Mountain 2558 Le Flore 344042N 0943400W Page
Black Fork Mountain 2501 Le Flore 344302N 0942253W Mountain Fork
Lynn Mountain 2480 Le Flore 343525N 0943352W Lynn Mountain
Scott, Mount 2464 Comanche 344440N 0983154W Mount Scott
Pinchot, Mount 2461 Comanche 344802N 0984617W Cooperton
Kiamichi Mountain 2451 Le Flore 343735N 0944854W Muse
Winding Stair Mountain 2451 Le Flore 344233N 0944038W Big Cedar
Baker Peak 2423 Comanche 344853N 0984808W Cooperton
Polecat Peak 2416 Le Flore 343525N 0942742W Zafra
King Mountain 2411 Kiowa 345215N 0991736W Blair
Lauramac, Mount 2403 Comanche 344534N 0983833W Saddle Mountain
Soldiers Peak 2391 Kiowa 345046N 0991417W Warren
Cavanal Mountain 2385 Le Flore 350415N 0944045W Poteau West
Oklahoma High Top 2381 Le Flore 345528N 0942929W Bates
Flat Top 2360 Ellis 361857N 0995253W Shattuck
Walsh Mountain 2303 Greer 345835N 0992437W Granite
Cedar Mountain 2269 Comanche 344525N 0983957W Saddle Mountain
Bushman Mountain 2263 Comanche 344422N 0983854W Quanah Mountain
Tepee Mountain 2259 Kiowa 345239N 0991214W Lone Wolf
Grace Mountain 2250 Comanche 344901N 0984650W Cooperton
Black Bear Mountain 2238 Comanche 344620N 0984545W Cooperton
Panther Mountain 2237 Comanche 344633N 0984627W Cooperton
Big Four Mountain 2233 Comanche 344526N 0984552W Cooperton
North Mountain 2232 Comanche 344746N 0984156W Saddle Mountain
Sherman, Mount 2207 Comanche 344120N 0983455W Mount Scott
Brown Mountain 2192 Greer 345928N 0992506W Granite
Twin Rocks Mountain 2192 Comanche 344257N 0984436W Quanah Mountain
Granite Mountain 2182 Comanche 344241N 0984450W Quanah Mountain
Rough Mountain 2174 Le Flore 344148N 0944031W Big Cedar
Wall, Mount 2163 Comanche 344514N 0983324W Meers
Ant Hill 2163 Ellis 355147N 0994142W Roll
Cross Mountain 2161 Comanche 344127N 0983540W Mount Scott
Pine Mountain 2155 Le Flore 343948N 0943007W Page
Saddle Mountain 2119 Comanche 345047N 0984101W Saddle Mountain
Simmons Mountain 2093 Le Flore 343943N 0944042W Big Cedar
Cow Creek Mountain 2086 Le Flore 343500N 0942700W Zafra
Blue Mountain 2082 Kiowa 345433N 0985252W Rainy Mountain Creek
Central Peak 2082 Comanche 344403N 0983630W Mount Scott
Ring Top Mountain 2045 Comanche 345102N 0983143W Meers
Hunting Horse Hill 2040 Comanche 344449N 0983238W Mount Scott
McKinley, Mount 2035 Comanche 344141N 0983641W Mount Scott
Whistle Peak 2027 Comanche 344636N 0984356W Saddle Mountain
Scotts Boy, Mount 2020 Comanche 344425N 0983232W Mount Scott
Quetone Point 2018 Comanche 344433N 0983314W Mount Scott
Oklahoma Peak 2018 Le Flore 350250N 0942649W Hartford
Oklahoma Peak 2005 Le Flore 350252N 0942652W Hartford
Blue Mountain 1992 Le Flore 344917N 0944621W Leflore SE
Arapaho Point 1989 Comanche 344109N 0983702W Mount Scott
Dead Man Mountain 1974 Comanche 344529N 0984515W Cooperton
Haystack Mountain 1964 Greer 350453N 0993732W Plainview
Longhorn Mountain 1952 Kiowa 345529N 0984449W Bally Mountain
Buffalo Wallow Mountain 1893 Le Flore 344622N 0945437W Blackjack Ridge
Buffalo Mountain 1892 Kiowa 345145N 0984629W Cooperton
Gobblers Knob 1892 Le Flore 343345N 0945324W Honobia
Quartz Mountain 1887 Greer 345425N 0991923W Lake Altus
Bell Mountain 1856 Comanche 344503N 0984718W Cooperton
Bat Cave Mountain 1855 Comanche 344227N 0984238W Quanah Mountain
Blue Mountain 1831 Latimer 350157N 0951005W Kinta
Unap Mountain 1812 Kiowa 345652N 0984851W Unap Mountain
Long Mountain 1807 Kiowa 343841N 0990207W Long Mountain
Costain Hill 1800 Comanche 344322N 0983502W Mount Scott
Carlton Mountain 1768 Comanche 344046N 0983109W Mount Scott
Deadman Mountain 1764 Le Flore 343512N 0945221W Ludlow
Workman Mountain 1710 Adair 354359N 0943037W Big Round Mountain
Thompson Hill 1685 Comanche 344232N 0983319W Mount Scott
Sans Bois Mountain 1680 Haskell 350455N 0945828W McCurtain SW
Fern Mountain 1676 Comanche 344203N 0983711W Mount Scott
Koehler Hill 1675 Comanche 343948N 0983421W Mount Scott
Little Bow Mountain 1669 Kiowa 345209N 0990647W Roosevelt
Bowman Mountain 1664 Le Flore 344149N 0944216W Big Cedar
Long Mountain 1653 Latimer 350340N 0950607W Lequire
Wolf Mountain 1651 Latimer 344134N 0952546W Sardis
Zodletone Mountain 1649 Kiowa 345944N 0984119W Bally Mountain
Spring Mountain 1641 Le Flore 344234N 0943745W Big Cedar
Doublehead Mountain 1635 Adair 354525N 0943723W Stilwell East
Muskrat Mountain 1625 Adair 354533N 0943235W Stilwell East
Timber Hill 1624 Comanche 344303N 0984016W Quanah Mountain
Big Round Mountain 1621 Adair 353845N 0943122W Big Round Mountain
Middle Mountain 1619 Pushmataha 344006N 0952933W Sardis
Eightmile Mountain 1618 Latimer 344845N 0950940W Baker Mountain
Rainy Mountain 1611 Kiowa 345949N 0985057W Unap Mountain
Gruber Hill 1609 Comanche 343944N 0983232W Mount Scott
Potato Peaks 1598 Le Flore 350342N 0944512W Potato Peaks
Browne Hill 1593 Comanche 344036N 0983334W Mount Scott
Little Round Mountain 1592 Latimer 350227N 0950706W Lequire
Little High Top 1582 Latimer 344542N 0951436W Baker Mountain
Yancy Mountain 1576 Latimer 345919N 0951429W Panola
Flagpole Mountain 1572 Pushmataha 343736N 0952442W Sardis
Jackfork Mountain 1563 Pittsburg 343952N 0953002W Counts
Round Top 1553 Le Flore 344915N 0950044W Talihina
Soap Mountain 1551 Adair 354512N 0943618W Stilwell East
Bunch Mountain 1545 Adair 354334N 0944747W Bunch
Gobblers Knob 1535 Le Flore 344827N 0950217W Talihina
Kelsey Mountain 1533 Le Flore 343953N 0942746W Mountain Fork
Tucker Knob 1532 Haskell 350410N 0951849W Quinton South

Woody