New Jersey's topography slopes generally from the higher, rugged elevations in the northwest to the flat, sea-level coastal plains in the southeast. The highest point in the state is High Point, located in the Kittatinny Mountains of Sussex County, reaching an elevation of 1,803 feet (550 meters) above sea level.
From the northwest mountains, the land descends into the Highlands, which typically range from 600 to 1,500 feet in elevation. The central Piedmont region is characterized by gently rolling terrain, generally sitting between 100 and 400 feet above sea level, punctuated by the dramatic basalt cliffs of the Palisades which rise steeply along the western bank of the Hudson River.
The lowest point in the state is at sea level along the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. The southern half of the state, comprising the Atlantic Coastal Plain, is exceptionally flat, rarely exceeding 100 feet in elevation, and is defined by its extensive pine forests, sandy soil, tidal marshes, and barrier islands.