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What is the difference between "mountain", "hill", and "peak"; "lake" and "pond"; or "river" and "creek?"

There are no official definitions for generic terms as applied to geographic features. Any existing definitions derive from the needs and applications of organizations using those geographic features. The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database utilizes 63 broad categories of feature types defined solely to facilitate retrieval of entries with similar characteristics from the database.

These categories generally match dictionary definitions, but not always. The differences are thematic and highly subjective. For example, a lake is classified in the GNIS as a "natural body of inland water”, which is a feature description that can also apply to a reservoir, a pond, or a pool. All "linear flowing bodies of water" are classified as streams in the GNIS. At least 121 other generic terms fit this broad category, including creeks and rivers. Some might contend that a creek must flow into a river, but such hierarchies do not exist in the nation's namescape. 

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names once stated that the difference between a hill and a mountain was 1,000 feet of local relief, but this was abandoned in the early 1970s. Broad agreement on such questions is essentially impossible, which is why there are no official feature classification standards.

Learn more: U.S. Board on Geographic Names Principles, Policies, and Procedures

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northwest US and southwest Canada elevation

Is there a list of mountain peak elevations in the United States?

The USGS does not have specific data for current mountain peak elevations other than what was previously published in an Elevations and Distances in the United States booklet. A way to determine an approximate elevation at a specific point is to use the spot elevation tool query in The National Map Viewer or through the The National Map Elevation Point Query Service. Elevations derived using these...

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Is there a list of mountain peak elevations in the United States?

The USGS does not have specific data for current mountain peak elevations other than what was previously published in an Elevations and Distances in the United States booklet. A way to determine an approximate elevation at a specific point is to use the spot elevation tool query in The National Map Viewer or through the The National Map Elevation Point Query Service. Elevations derived using these...

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Image: Rocky Mountain National Park

What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with state names authorities to standardize geographic names. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the District of Columbia...

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What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with state names authorities to standardize geographic names. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the District of Columbia...

Learn More
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How can I acquire or download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data?

Download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data using the U.S. Board on Geographic Names website. Query the database for official geographic feature names, their location attributes, variant names, and other data. Display, print, and download up to 2,000 records from a query.GNIS data can also be downloaded via The National Map Downloader. Define an area of interest on the map, then put a...

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How can I acquire or download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data?

Download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data using the U.S. Board on Geographic Names website. Query the database for official geographic feature names, their location attributes, variant names, and other data. Display, print, and download up to 2,000 records from a query.GNIS data can also be downloaded via The National Map Downloader. Define an area of interest on the map, then put a...

Learn More
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Person looking extremely small as they stand under a giant sandstone arch

How can I name an unnamed natural feature?

Proposals to name an unnamed natural feature can be submitted to the Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government, and promulgates policies governing issues such as commemorative naming, derogatory names, and names in wilderness areas. Please note that no natural feature (and certain manmade features) can be...

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How can I name an unnamed natural feature?

Proposals to name an unnamed natural feature can be submitted to the Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government, and promulgates policies governing issues such as commemorative naming, derogatory names, and names in wilderness areas. Please note that no natural feature (and certain manmade features) can be...

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I will never forget the first time I saw Denali. Even from Anchorage, over 100 miles away, I could see a massive mound of white

How can I propose a name change for a natural feature?

Proposals to change the name of a natural feature can be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. There must, however, be a compelling reason to change it. The Board is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government and discourages name changes unless necessary. Further, changing a name merely to correct or re-establish historical usage is not in...

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How can I propose a name change for a natural feature?

Proposals to change the name of a natural feature can be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. There must, however, be a compelling reason to change it. The Board is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government and discourages name changes unless necessary. Further, changing a name merely to correct or re-establish historical usage is not in...

Learn More
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Does the Geographic Names Information System Database contain entries for obsolete names and historical geographic features that no longer exist?

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Does the Geographic Names Information System Database contain entries for obsolete names and historical geographic features that no longer exist?

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Learn More
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What is the most common city/town name in the United States?

There are no official definitions of city, town, village, hamlet, neighborhood, etc. All named entities with human habitation are classified as Populated Place, including incorporated places (20 percent of the Nation's communities), unincorporated places (the majority), housing developments not yet incorporated, and neighborhoods within incorporated places.The most frequently occurring community...

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What is the most common city/town name in the United States?

There are no official definitions of city, town, village, hamlet, neighborhood, etc. All named entities with human habitation are classified as Populated Place, including incorporated places (20 percent of the Nation's communities), unincorporated places (the majority), housing developments not yet incorporated, and neighborhoods within incorporated places.The most frequently occurring community...

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Bokan Mountain, Alaska
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  • FAQ
    link
    northwest US and southwest Canada elevation

    Is there a list of mountain peak elevations in the United States?

    The USGS does not have specific data for current mountain peak elevations other than what was previously published in an Elevations and Distances in the United States booklet. A way to determine an approximate elevation at a specific point is to use the spot elevation tool query in The National Map Viewer or through the The National Map Elevation Point Query Service. Elevations derived using these...

    link

    Is there a list of mountain peak elevations in the United States?

    The USGS does not have specific data for current mountain peak elevations other than what was previously published in an Elevations and Distances in the United States booklet. A way to determine an approximate elevation at a specific point is to use the spot elevation tool query in The National Map Viewer or through the The National Map Elevation Point Query Service. Elevations derived using these...

    Learn More
    link
    Image: Rocky Mountain National Park

    What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?

    The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with state names authorities to standardize geographic names. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the District of Columbia...

    link

    What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?

    The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with state names authorities to standardize geographic names. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the District of Columbia...

    Learn More
    link
    GIS data layers visualization

    How can I acquire or download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data?

    Download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data using the U.S. Board on Geographic Names website. Query the database for official geographic feature names, their location attributes, variant names, and other data. Display, print, and download up to 2,000 records from a query.GNIS data can also be downloaded via The National Map Downloader. Define an area of interest on the map, then put a...

    link

    How can I acquire or download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data?

    Download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data using the U.S. Board on Geographic Names website. Query the database for official geographic feature names, their location attributes, variant names, and other data. Display, print, and download up to 2,000 records from a query.GNIS data can also be downloaded via The National Map Downloader. Define an area of interest on the map, then put a...

    Learn More
    link
    Person looking extremely small as they stand under a giant sandstone arch

    How can I name an unnamed natural feature?

    Proposals to name an unnamed natural feature can be submitted to the Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government, and promulgates policies governing issues such as commemorative naming, derogatory names, and names in wilderness areas. Please note that no natural feature (and certain manmade features) can be...

    link

    How can I name an unnamed natural feature?

    Proposals to name an unnamed natural feature can be submitted to the Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government, and promulgates policies governing issues such as commemorative naming, derogatory names, and names in wilderness areas. Please note that no natural feature (and certain manmade features) can be...

    Learn More
    link
    I will never forget the first time I saw Denali. Even from Anchorage, over 100 miles away, I could see a massive mound of white

    How can I propose a name change for a natural feature?

    Proposals to change the name of a natural feature can be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. There must, however, be a compelling reason to change it. The Board is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government and discourages name changes unless necessary. Further, changing a name merely to correct or re-establish historical usage is not in...

    link

    How can I propose a name change for a natural feature?

    Proposals to change the name of a natural feature can be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. There must, however, be a compelling reason to change it. The Board is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government and discourages name changes unless necessary. Further, changing a name merely to correct or re-establish historical usage is not in...

    Learn More
    link
    Alaska Surveying

    Does the Geographic Names Information System Database contain entries for obsolete names and historical geographic features that no longer exist?

    Yes, The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) actively seeks names of features that no longer exist. The term "historical" as used in the GNIS specifically means that the feature no longer exists on the landscape. An abandoned ghost town, for example, still exists so it is not historical. Historical features have no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any...

    link

    Does the Geographic Names Information System Database contain entries for obsolete names and historical geographic features that no longer exist?

    Yes, The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) actively seeks names of features that no longer exist. The term "historical" as used in the GNIS specifically means that the feature no longer exists on the landscape. An abandoned ghost town, for example, still exists so it is not historical. Historical features have no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any...

    Learn More
    link
    Photograph of the city of Fort Collins, CO with mountain in the background

    What is the most common city/town name in the United States?

    There are no official definitions of city, town, village, hamlet, neighborhood, etc. All named entities with human habitation are classified as Populated Place, including incorporated places (20 percent of the Nation's communities), unincorporated places (the majority), housing developments not yet incorporated, and neighborhoods within incorporated places.The most frequently occurring community...

    link

    What is the most common city/town name in the United States?

    There are no official definitions of city, town, village, hamlet, neighborhood, etc. All named entities with human habitation are classified as Populated Place, including incorporated places (20 percent of the Nation's communities), unincorporated places (the majority), housing developments not yet incorporated, and neighborhoods within incorporated places.The most frequently occurring community...

    Learn More
  • Multimedia
    Bokan Mountain, Alaska
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    This is a photo of the southeast arm of Yellowstone Lake.
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    Bull Hill Wyoming
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    Lassen Peak viewed from the south at the summit of Brokeoff Volcano...
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    Wheeler Peak with Glacier
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    Glacier Peak volcano, Washington reflected in pond below the Whitec...
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    This is an aerial photo of Indian Pond hydrothermal explosion crater
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  • Publications

    Elevations and Distances

    Photographs and other images of the Earth taken from the air and from space show a great deal about the planet's landforms, vegetation, and resources. Aerial and satellite images, known as remotely sensed images, permit accurate mapping of land cover and make landscape features understandable on regional, continental, and even global scales. Transient phenomena, such as seasonal vegetation vigor a

    The National Map - geographic names

    The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the territories and outlying areas of the United States, including Antarctica. It is the geographic names component of Th

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    Mapping Public Lands in the United States

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    Read Article