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Topographic Prominence Calculator

Topographic Prominence

Calculate the topographic prominence and isolation of a peak by comparing its summit elevation to the highest col connecting it to a higher peak.

Formula

Prominence = Summit Elevation - Key Col Elevation; Prominence Ratio = (Prominence / Summit Elevation) x 100%; Line-of-Sight = sqrt(Distance^2 + Elevation Difference^2)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is topographic prominence?
Prominence is the height of a peak above the lowest contour that encircles it but no higher peak. In simpler terms, it is how far you must descend from the summit before ascending a higher peak.
What is an ultra-prominent peak?
An ultra-prominent peak has at least 1,500 meters (about 4,921 feet) of topographic prominence. There are roughly 1,524 ultra-prominent peaks worldwide. Mount Everest has the greatest prominence at 8,849 meters.
What is the difference between prominence and elevation?
Elevation is the height above sea level. Prominence measures how much a peak stands out from its surroundings. A 3,000m peak next to a 2,900m ridge has only 100m prominence despite its high elevation.

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