Altitude
0 m
above sea level
Temperature
15°C (59°F)
Layer
Troposphere

Malard Duck

Migration altitude of the Malard Duck

100 meters

Cirrus Clouds

Cirrus clouds are wispy clouds made out of ice crystals

500 meters

Hang Gliding

Typical altitude for hang gliding

1,000 meters

Nimbostratus

Nimbostratus clouds are responsible for rainy days

1,500 meters

Bald Eagle

Maximum flight altitude for Bald Eagles

2,000 meters

Skydiver

Typical altitude for skydivers to jump

2,500 meters

Cessna 172

Cruising altitude of a Cessna 172 light aircraft

3,000 meters

Himalayan Jumping Spider

Highest-dwelling spider

3,500 meters

Mount Everest's Peak

The highest point on Earth

4,000 meters

Passenger Jet

Typical cruising altitude

5,000 meters

Death Zone

Above this altitude is known as the 'death zone', because there isn't enough oxygen for human life

6,000 meters

Jet Streams

Bands of strong winds in the atmosphere that can reach speeds of up to 450 km/h

7,000 meters

Nacreous Clouds

Rare clouds found in polar regions made of small ice particles that scatter light in colorful ways

8,000 meters

SR-71 Blackbird

One of the fastest planes ever made, can fly at over 3 times the speed of sound

10,000 meters

Troposphere End

You are now leaving the troposphere, which contains 99% of the water vapor in the atmosphere

12,000 meters

Space Suit Needed

Above this altitude your saliva and tears will boil if you don't have a pressure suit

15,000 meters

Noctilucent Clouds

The highest altitude clouds in the atmosphere, only visible at night

20,000 meters

Meteors

Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere. It's estimated that over 48 tons of meteors hit the atmosphere every day

30,000 meters

Felix Baumgartner

The first person to break the sound barrier in freefall. He reached a top speed of 1,356 km/h

40,000 meters

Stratosphere End

You are now leaving the stratosphere, home to the ozone layer which protects us from harmful UV rays

50,000 meters

Aurora Formation

As particles from the sun hit the atmosphere, they excite the atoms in the air, creating brilliant displays of light called auroras

60,000 meters

Space Proximity

You are about to reach a place fewer than 1,000 humans have ever been

70,000 meters

Mesosphere End

You are now leaving the mesosphere, the coldest part of Earth's atmosphere

85,000 meters

Kármán Line

Congratulations! You've reached the Kármán line, usually accepted as the start of outer space

100,000 meters

Space Elevator

Welcome to the space elevator, the only elevator that goes to space. Click the button below to begin your journey from the Earth's surface to outer space.