What Is Altitude?

What Is Altitude?

Altitude is the height of a place or object above sea level. Sea level is the place where the ocean meets the land. It is used as the starting point for measuring how high something is, because the ocean’s surface is almost the same height everywhere in the world.

For example, the beach is at 0 feet altitude because it is right at sea level. Your town might be a few hundred feet above sea level. Denver, Colorado is called the “Mile High City” because it is 5,280 feet above sea level! Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth, rises to a huge altitude of 29,032 feet. Even higher, airplanes often fly at 35,000 feet above sea level.

How Does Altitude Affect Us?

As altitude increases, the air gets thinner. This means there is less air pressure, and it is harder to breathe or run. That’s why people and animals can feel tired more quickly on high mountains. Also, the higher you go, the colder it gets. Mountain tops often have snow, even in summer, because the temperature drops as altitude goes up.

At high places, air pressure is lower. That’s why your ears might pop when you drive up a mountain. Water also boils at a lower temperature, so cooking takes longer the higher you go.

Measuring Altitude and Life at High Altitudes

Special tools called altimeters are used in airplanes and hiking watches to measure altitude. Some animals, like mountain goats, yaks, and condors, have special adaptations to live high up where there is less air and it’s much colder.

Altitude is like counting steps on an imaginary staircase from the ocean up toward space. The higher you go, the more things change!

Interesting Fact: Climbers on Mount Everest need oxygen tanks because the air is so thin, it is difficult to breathe without extra oxygen!