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List of mountain peaks of Missouri facts for kids

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Further information: Missouri and Geography of Missouri
Highest natural point in Missouri
The highest natural point in the U.S. state of Missouri, Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,772 feet above sea level.

This article is all about the tallest and most interesting mountain peaks in Missouri! We'll look at different ways to measure mountains, like how high they are, how much they stand out from the land around them, and how far they are from other peaks of similar height.

When we talk about a "significant mountain peak," we mean a summit that rises at least 100 meters (about 328 feet) above the land around it.

There are three main ways to measure a mountain or hill:

  • Elevation: This is how high the top of the mountain is above sea level. Imagine the ocean's surface; elevation tells you how far above that point the mountain reaches.
  • Topographic Prominence: This measures how much a mountain sticks up from its surroundings. Think of it as how tall the mountain is from its base, not from sea level. A mountain with high prominence really stands out!
  • Topographic Isolation: This tells you how far a mountain is from the nearest other mountain that is just as tall or taller. A mountain with high isolation is pretty lonely, with no other tall peaks nearby.
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Tallest Mountains in Missouri

This section lists the highest peaks in Missouri, based on their elevation above sea level. These mountains are mostly found in Iron County, St. Francois County, Webster County, Reynolds County, and Madison County.

Here are some of the tallest significant peaks:

Mountains That Stand Out (Prominence)

This section looks at the mountains that rise the most above the land around them. These peaks have high "topographic prominence," meaning they really stick out from the landscape.

Here are some of the most prominent peaks in Missouri:

  • Buford Mountain: This mountain in Iron County, Missouri has the highest prominence in the state, standing out 195 meters (about 640 feet) from its surroundings.
  • Taum Sauk Mountain: Missouri's highest peak is also very prominent, rising 156 meters (about 512 feet) from the land around it. It's in Iron County, Missouri.
  • Brown Mountain: Located in Saint Francois County, Missouri, this peak has a prominence of 149 meters (about 489 feet).
  • Stono Mountain: Another prominent peak in Saint Francois County, Missouri, it rises 147 meters (about 482 feet) from its base.
  • Webster County High Point: This peak in Webster County, Missouri has a prominence of 140 meters (about 459 feet).

Most Isolated Mountains

"Isolation" means how far a mountain is from any other peak that's just as tall or taller. A mountain with high isolation is pretty much on its own, with no other big mountains close by.

Here are some of the most isolated significant peaks in Missouri:

  • Taum Sauk Mountain: This mountain is not only the highest but also the most isolated, being 238.38 kilometers (about 148 miles) away from any other peak of similar height. It's in Iron County, Missouri.
  • Webster County High Point: This peak in Webster County, Missouri is quite isolated, with its nearest equally tall neighbor being 16.88 kilometers (about 10.5 miles) away.
  • Buford Mountain: In Iron County, Missouri, this mountain is isolated by 14.06 kilometers (about 8.7 miles).
  • Bell Mountain: This peak in Iron County, Missouri has an isolation of 11.45 kilometers (about 7.1 miles).
  • Johnson Mountain: Also in Iron County, Missouri, Johnson Mountain is isolated by 11.01 kilometers (about 6.8 miles).
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List of mountain peaks of Missouri Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.