What's the difference between a hill and a mountain?

Question

I know that a mountain is higher than a hill. But what is the height that classifies a mountain as such. For example, it's a hill at 300 feet, and a mountain at 30l feet. Does anyone know?

Additional Details

It's interesting how people are very authoritative in their answers, AND they're all different. Perhaps you can cite your authoritative source. One person said, "It's 2000 ft." Another said, "It's 1000 m." Who am I to believe?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Actually, a mountain is anything over 2000 ft of local relief, hill is anything under.

The world's tallest hill is in Poteau, OK, and is 1999 ft tall.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

According to Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Brittanica, this is the right answer. Those who also wrote that a mountain depends on local custom or something like that were also right. Sorry, I could pick only one answer, and this one was most precise. Thanks to all who contributed.

Answer 2

a mole ?

Answer 3

mountains r bigger

Answer 4

I have my own definition but it probably won't agree with geologists.

In my opinion, if it has trees on the top, it is a hill. Only after the peak pushes through the tree line does it become a mountain.

Answer 5

In Texas hills ARE mountains.

Answer 6

It's all relative. On very flat plains a mole hill can be a mountain. But perhaps it should have sheer cliffs to be called a mountain. Something with a negative slope to it.

Answer 7

If you have to climb it ... it's a mountain. If you own it and want to sell it to someone who doesn't like mountains ... it's only a hill.

Answer 8

A mountain must bear volcanic characteristics like a peak, crater etc. A hill is predominantly a result of folding action due to tectonic forces or the creation of wind action.

Answer 9

the classifying height is 1000m.

Answer 10

There is no universally accepted standard definition for the height of a mountain or a hill. It depends where you live.