Elevation
Lhasa elevation and altitude
Lhasa, China is 11,978 feet (3,651 meters) above sea level — more than a mile high. Elevation and altitude mean the same thing here: the height of the city above the sea.
What 11,978 feet means in Lhasa
Among the 689 cities on this site, Lhasa is one of the highest. At 11,978 ft the air is thin enough that most visitors notice it: stairs and hills feel harder for the first few days.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In Lhasa a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 19.05 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg.
Cooking. Water boils at about 190 °F (87.6 °C) here, so boiled foods cook more slowly and baking recipes often need small high-altitude adjustments. 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 Lhasa
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shigatse, China | 12,621 | 3,847 | 136 mi |
| Darjeeling, India | 6,978 | 2,127 | 250 mi |
| Kathmandu, Nepal | 4,321 | 1,317 | 375 mi |
| Dhaka, Bangladesh | 75 | 23 | 413 mi |
| Kolkata, India | 36 | 11 | 518 mi |
| Shimla, India | 6,801 | 2,073 | 836 mi |
| Delhi, India | 745 | 227 | 839 mi |
| Leh, India | 11,490 | 3,502 | 851 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation or altitude of Lhasa?
Lhasa, China is about 11,978 feet (3,651 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 Lhasa because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 11,978 ft is about 19.05 inHg (645 hPa), 64% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 64% as much oxygen as at sea level.
At what temperature does water boil in Lhasa?
About 190 °F (87.6 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.