The summit of Mount Damavand, Iran, in winter

"Mountaintop" redirects here. This can also refer to the speech by Dr. Martin Luther King.

In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation. The topographic terms "acme", "apex", "peak", "summit", and "zenith" are synonyms.

The term "summit" is generally only used for a mountain peak with some significant amount of topographic prominence or topographic isolation (distance from the nearest point of higher elevation); for example, a boulder next to the main summit of a mountain is not considered a summit. Summits near a higher peak, with some prominence or isolation, but not reaching a certain cutoff value for these quantities, are often considered subsummits (or subpeaks) of the higher peak, and are considered as part of the same mountain.

A pyramidal peak is an exaggerated form produced by ice erosion of a mountain top.

Summit may also refer to the highest point along a line, trail, or route. In many parts of the western United States, the term refers to the highest point along a road, highway, or railroad. For example, the highest point along Interstate 80 in California is referred to as Donner Summit (not to be confused with Donner Pass, which is located just to the south.)

[edit] See also

• Geoid
• Hill
• List of highest mountains
• Maxima and minima
• Mountain
• Nadir (topography) (antonym)
• Topography

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