# Difference btwn a hill and a mountain

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-btwn-a-hill-and-a-mountain/208700
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 21, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-btwn-a-hill-and-a-mountain/208700 "2003-10-21T14:46:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-btwn-a-hill-and-a-mountain/208700/1 "2003-10-21T14:46:35Z")

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Just wondering what if any are the guidelines for how tall a hill has to be before it can be considered a mountain…also, what’s the difference between a lake and a pond?

thanks!

Georgie

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### Author: ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-btwn-a-hill-and-a-mountain/208700/2 "2003-10-21T15:35:36Z")

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found a reference at

[Forestry Link](http://forestry.about.com/library/glossary/blforgll.htm)

that defines a mountain as being

> [@](#):
>
> A natural elevation of the land surface, rising more than 1000 ft (see hill) above the surrounding lowlands, usually of restricted summit area (see plateau), and generally having steep sides.

and a hill as being

> [@](#):
>
> A natural elevation of the land surface, rising as much as 1000 ft (see mountain) above the surrounding lowlands, usually of restricted summit area and having a well-defined outline. Hills fringing a mountain range are called “foothills.”

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### Author: ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-btwn-a-hill-and-a-mountain/208700/3 "2003-10-21T15:40:21Z")

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[THE ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP A HILL BUT CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN](http://www.surveyhistory.org/englishman_who_went_up_hill.htm)

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### Author: ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-btwn-a-hill-and-a-mountain/208700/4 "2003-10-21T16:32:26Z")

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Lake/Pond

I was told by a Real Estate agent that “It’s a lake if you’re selling, and a pond if you’re buying!”

While visiting NewFoundland a few years back that they call any body of fresh water a pond, regardless of size. Might not be true though.