Leipzig lies in the Leipzig Lowland Bay at an average elevation of 113 meters above sea level – more than three times the height of Berlin. The city developed at the confluence of the White Elster, Pleiße and Parthe rivers; the river valleys sit lower while surrounding loess ridges reach 130–140 m. The southern lake district was created by flooding former open-cast lignite mines.
That works out to roughly 371 feet above sea level. The nearby cities compared on this page average 85 m, putting Leipzig about 28 m higher.
Quick Facts
| Elevation (above sea level) | 113 m |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51.3397° N, 12.3731° E |
| Country | Germany |
| Continent | Europe |
Compare elevations – nearby cities
| City | Elevation (m) | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 34 | Germany |
| Dresden | 113 | Germany |
| Frankfurt | 103 | Germany |
| Essen | 90 | Germany |
Cities with a similar elevation
The following cities sit at an elevation similar to Leipzig (113 m above sea level):
| City | Elevation (m) | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Heidelberg | 121 | Germany |
| Halle | 104 | Germany |
| Karlsruhe | 122 | Germany |
| Mainz | 122 | Germany |
| Mannheim | 104 | Germany |
| Wiesbaden | 122 | Germany |
Frequently Asked Questions
How high is Leipzig above sea level?
Leipzig averages 113 m above sea level. River valleys of the Elster and Pleiße sit at 95–100 m; the southern ridge reaches 130–140 m.
Is Leipzig higher than Berlin?
Yes – Leipzig (113 m) is more than three times higher than Berlin (34 m) and far above Hamburg (8 m) or Bremen (20 m).
Why are there so many lakes south of Leipzig?
The southern lakes were created by flooding former open-cast lignite mining pits. The landscape was fundamentally reshaped by decades of coal extraction before being reclaimed as a recreational lake district.