alimmankohdan

Alimmankohdan is a Finnish term used in geography and related fields to denote the lowest point of a defined area, feature, or object. It can refer to the lowest elevation within a specified region, such as a valley, basin, lake, or watershed, or to the bottom of an artificial structure like a quarry or excavation.

Linguistically, alimmankohdan is the genitive form of alimmankohde, a compound of alimmainen (lowest) and kohde (point/spot/object). The genitive ending -n signals possession or association, so phrases like alimmankohdan korkeus mean “the height of the lowest point” and alimmankohdan sijainti mean “the location of the lowest point.”

Usage and measurement: In cartography, hydrology, and civil engineering, the term helps describe extremes used in planning, risk assessment, and terrain analysis. Elevations are typically reported relative to mean sea level and derived from topographic maps or digital elevation models. The concept is often used when characterizing basins, coastlines, or the lowest accessible points within infrastructure projects.

Examples: The lowest land-based point in Finland is at sea level along the coast, so the minimum elevation is 0 meters above mean sea level. In a basin or lake, the alimmankohdan korkeus refers to the lowest point at or near the bottom of the feature, which may be close to the water surface in shallow bodies or deeper in larger basins.

See also: mean sea level, topography, digital elevation model, Maanmittauslaitos.