Alaska elevation
Alaska runs from sea level (Pacific Ocean) to 20,310 ft at Denali, with an average of about 1,489 ft.
Highest point: Denali
20,310ft
6,191 m above sea level
Denali summit · NAVD 88 (current U.S. vertical datum) · 2015 GPS survey; the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001) still lists 20,320 ft.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey news release: New Elevation for Nation's Highest Peak (2015-09-02)
- Lowest point: Pacific Ocean
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 1,489 ft (454 m)
- Mean of 249 USGS points about 82 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
- USGS table figure for the high point
- 20,320 ft
- Older survey on the NGVD 29 datum.
- Source: USGS Elevations and Distances (revised 2001)
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Alaska places on this site
Mountains and peaks
- Denali20,310 ft
- Mount Foraker17,358 ft
- Mount Bona16,552 ft
- Mount Blackburn16,390 ft
- Mount Sanford16,225 ft
- Mount Fairweather15,325 ft
- Mount Wrangell14,135 ft
- Mount Hayes13,652 ft
- Mount Drum11,788 ft
Alaska elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Denali | 20,310 ft (6,191 m) | U.S. Geological Survey news release: New Elevation for Nation's Highest Peak (2015-09-02) |
| Lowest point: Pacific Ocean | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 20,310 ft (6,190 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 1,489 ft (454 m) | USGS 3DEP, 249 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 20,228 ft (6,165 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Juneau | 34 ft (10 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 571,242 sq mi (1,479,509 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 1,489 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (1,489 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 95 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Home canning
- Above 1,000 ft, USDA processing times and pressure-canner pounds go up.
- Canning adjustments
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
City elevations in Alaska
- Fairbanks445 ft
- Wasilla342 ft
- Anchorage104 ft
- Juneau (capital)34 ft
- Sitka27 ft
Largest places in Alaska
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | 104 ft (32 m) · pop. 289,600 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Fairbanks | 445 ft (136 m) · pop. 31,732 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Juneau | 34 ft (10 m) · pop. 31,572 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Wasilla | 342 ft (104 m) · pop. 10,318 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Sitka | 27 ft (8 m) · pop. 8,355 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Alaska?
Denali at 20,310 ft (6,191 m), from U.S. Geological Survey news release: New Elevation for Nation's Highest Peak (2015-09-02). The USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001) lists 20,320 ft, an older survey on the NGVD 29 datum.
What is the lowest point in Alaska?
Pacific Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Alaska?
About 1,489 ft (454 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 249 points on a regular grid about 82 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Alaska city on this site is highest?
Fairbanks, at 445 ft downtown (USGS). The lowest is Juneau at 34 ft.
Does altitude affect cooking in Alaska?
At 1,489 ft, water boils at about 209.3 °F (98.5 °C) and standard air pressure is 28.35 inHg (960 hPa), so each breath holds about 95% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Alaska spans 20,310 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey news release: New Elevation for Nation's Highest Peak (2015-09-02) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made