Elevation
Ames elevation and altitude
Ames, Iowa is 942 feet (287 meters) above sea level. Elevation and altitude mean the same thing here: the height of the city above the sea.
What 942 feet means in Ames
Among the 689 cities on this site, Ames is higher than most. At 942 ft the thinner air is not something most people notice day to day.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In Ames a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 28.92 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg. See today’s live barometric pressure in Ames.
Cooking. Water boils at about 210 °F (99.0 °C) here, almost the same as at sea level. Boiling point at altitude
Where the number comes from. The elevation is for the city center point in the GeoNames gazetteer, taken from a digital elevation model. To check the exact height where you are standing, use What is my elevation? or What is my altitude?
Elevation of places near Ames
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 873 | 266 | 30 mi |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 810 | 247 | 101 mi |
| Iowa City, IA | 669 | 204 | 111 mi |
| Omaha, NE | 1,060 | 323 | 131 mi |
| Sioux City, IA | 1,201 | 366 | 146 mi |
| Rochester, MN | 1,024 | 312 | 149 mi |
| Davenport, IA | 591 | 180 | 161 mi |
| Moline, IL | 577 | 176 | 164 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation or altitude of Ames?
Ames, Iowa is about 942 feet (287 meters) above sea level, measured at the city center. Neighborhoods higher or lower in the city can differ by a few hundred feet.
What is the air pressure in Ames because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 942 ft is about 28.92 inHg (979 hPa), 97% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 97% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in Ames.
At what temperature does water boil in Ames?
About 210 °F (99.0 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.