---
title: Elevation | Plaza Docs
description: Look up elevation for points, batches, and profiles with ascent/descent stats.
---

Elevation data for any point on Earth: single lookups, batch queries, and profiles along a path with ascent/descent stats. All inputs use GeoJSON geometry objects.

## Single point

POST a GeoJSON Point to get the elevation at that location:

Terminal window

```
curl -X POST https://plaza.fyi/api/v1/elevation \
  -H "x-api-key: pk_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [6.8652, 45.8326] }
  }'
```

```
import Plaza from "@plazafyi/sdk";


const client = new Plaza();


const el = await client.v1.elevation({
  geometry: { type: "Point", coordinates: [6.8652, 45.8326] },
});
console.log(`${el.properties.elevation_m}m`); // 4808m (Mont Blanc summit)
```

```
import plaza


client = plaza.Client()


el = client.v1.elevation(geometry={"type": "Point", "coordinates": [6.8652, 45.8326]})
print(f"{el['properties']['elevation_m']}m")
```

```
import "github.com/plazafyi/plaza-go"


client := plaza.NewClient()


el, _ := client.V1.Elevation(ctx, plaza.ElevationParams{
    Geometry: plaza.Point(6.8652, 45.8326),
})
fmt.Printf("%dm\n", el.Properties.ElevationM)
```

Response — a GeoJSON Feature with a 3D Point (longitude, latitude, elevation):

```
{
  "type": "Feature",
  "geometry": {
    "type": "Point",
    "coordinates": [6.8652, 45.8326, 4808]
  },
  "properties": {
    "elevation_m": 4808
  }
}
```

`elevation_m` is meters above sea level. Points in the ocean return 0.

## Batch lookup

POST a GeoJSON MultiPoint to get elevations for multiple points in one request:

Terminal window

```
curl -X POST https://plaza.fyi/api/v1/elevation \
  -H "x-api-key: pk_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "geometry": {
      "type": "MultiPoint",
      "coordinates": [
        [6.8652, 45.8326],
        [86.9250, 27.9881],
        [-118.2923, 36.5785]
      ]
    }
  }'
```

```
const elevations = await client.v1.elevation({
  geometry: {
    type: "MultiPoint",
    coordinates: [[6.8652, 45.8326], [86.925, 27.9881], [-118.2923, 36.5785]],
  },
});
```

Returns a FeatureCollection with a 3D Point per input:

```
{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "features": [
    {
      "type": "Feature",
      "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [6.8652, 45.8326, 4808] },
      "properties": { "elevation_m": 4808 }
    },
    {
      "type": "Feature",
      "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [86.9250, 27.9881, 8849] },
      "properties": { "elevation_m": 8849 }
    },
    {
      "type": "Feature",
      "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [-118.2923, 36.5785, 4421] },
      "properties": { "elevation_m": 4421 }
    }
  ]
}
```

Maximum 50 points per request.

## Elevation profile

POST a GeoJSON LineString (at least 2 points) to get a 3D LineString with ascent/descent statistics:

Terminal window

```
curl -X POST https://plaza.fyi/api/v1/elevation \
  -H "x-api-key: pk_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "geometry": {
      "type": "LineString",
      "coordinates": [
        [7.6500, 45.9764],
        [7.6589, 45.9636],
        [7.6617, 45.9537]
      ]
    }
  }'
```

```
const profile = await client.v1.elevation({
  geometry: {
    type: "LineString",
    coordinates: [[7.65, 45.9764], [7.6589, 45.9636], [7.6617, 45.9537]],
  },
});


console.log(`Total climb: ${profile.properties.total_ascent_m}m`);
console.log(`Total descent: ${profile.properties.total_descent_m}m`);
```

Response:

```
{
  "type": "Feature",
  "geometry": {
    "type": "LineString",
    "coordinates": [
      [7.6500, 45.9764, 2480],
      [7.6589, 45.9636, 2634],
      [7.6617, 45.9537, 2352]
    ]
  },
  "properties": {
    "total_ascent_m": 342,
    "total_descent_m": 128,
    "min_elevation_m": 2150,
    "max_elevation_m": 2634,
    "avg_elevation_m": 2412
  }
}
```

`geometry.coordinates` contains `[lng, lat, elevation_m]` triples. `properties` has summary stats for the full profile.

## Use cases

**Hiking and cycling apps.** Show elevation profiles alongside routes. Total climb matters more than peak elevation.

**Gradient analysis.** Sample densely along a route and compute grade between consecutive points. Flag sections steeper than 10%.

**Flood risk.** Batch-lookup elevation for building centroids. Compare against nearby water levels.

**Route comparison.** Same distance, different climb. The profile tells you which route is flatter.