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Brooklyn's Elevation: From Sea Level to Prospect Park's Summit

Brooklyn isn't flat — its 71 square miles rise from tidal marshes to a 216-foot terminal moraine. Elevation shapes neighborhoods, flood risk, and even history.

Neighborhood Elevations (Approx. ft / m above sea level)

Why It Matters

  • Flood zones: FEMA maps align tightly with <20 ft elevations.
  • Development history: High ground settled first (Brooklyn Heights, 1600s); lowlands filled later.
  • Climate adaptation: Elevation dictates seawall, green infrastructure, and retreat priorities.

No single number captures Brooklyn — but knowing your block's elevation tells you more than a borough average ever could.

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    AreaElevationContext
    Prospect Park (highest)216 / 66Terminal moraine ridge; Battle of Long Island high ground
    Brooklyn Heights75 / 23Glacial bluff; historic brownstones, promenade views
    Bay Ridge50 / 15Shore Road parks, Verrazzano anchorage
    McCarren Park (Greenpoint)50 / 15Former industrial, now recreational
    Park Slope40–100 / 12–30Slopes down from Prospect Park
    Williamsburg / Bushwick20–25 / 6–8Former marshes, filled 19th c.
    East New York25 / 7.6Glacial outwash plain
    DUMBO15 / 4.6Waterfront, flood-prone (Sandy)
    Coney Island10 / 3Barrier beach; storm surge zone
    Greenpoint20 / 6Industrial waterfront