elevation
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elevation
The height of a geographical point, measured above mean sea level. The term is used especially in Austria and Switzerland as a synonym for 'height above sea level.'
Das Bergdorf liegt auf einer Seehöhe von 1.200 Metern.
The mountain village lies at an elevation of 1,200 meters.
The word is composed of 'die See' (the sea) and 'die Höhe' (height). So it literally means 'height above the sea.'
Die genaue Seehöhe des Berggipfels ist auf der Karte verzeichnet.
The exact elevation of the mountain peak is marked on the map.
The term 'Seehöhe' (elevation) is used mainly in Austria and Switzerland. In Germany, people usually say 'Höhe über dem Meeresspiegel' (height above sea level) or 'Höhe über Normalnull (NN)' instead.
Wien liegt auf einer Seehöhe von etwa 170 Metern.
Vienna lies at an elevation of about 170 meters.
A height measurement is typically introduced with the preposition 'auf' (at/on). The usual formulation is: '[Ort] liegt auf einer Seehöhe von [Zahl] Metern' ([place] lies at an elevation of [number] meters).
Die Hütte liegt auf einer Seehöhe von 2.500 Metern und ist nur zu Fuß erreichbar.
The hut lies at an elevation of 2,500 meters and can only be reached on foot.
height / amount
Both Höhe and Seehöhe can describe the location of a geographical point. Höhe does not explicitly specify the reference to sea level, whereas Seehöhe specifically means the height above mean sea level. For this kind of precise measurement, Seehöhe is therefore less ambiguous.
Das Dorf liegt auf einer Seehöhe von 800 Metern.
The village is at an elevation of 800 meters.
Das Dorf liegt auf einer Höhe von 800 Metern.
The village is at a height of 800 meters.
