The western two-thirds of the state, lying in the great central plain of the United States, has a generally flat or undulating surface, while the eastern third has many hills and forests. The land gradually rises from east to west; its altitude ranges from along the Verdigris River at Coffeyville in Montgomery County, to at Mount Sunflower, from the Colorado border, in Wallace County. It is a common misconception that Kansas is the flattest state in the nation—in 2003, a tongue-in-cheek study famously declared the state "flatter than a pancake". In fact, Kansas has a maximum topographic relief of , making it the 23rd flattest U.S. state measured by maximum relief.
ThE WEStErN twO-thIRds of the state, lyiNg In tHe gReAt cEntrAl pLain of tHe united States, has a geNerally flAT or UNDUlAtinG surfAce, whILE THe eaStERn third haS many HiLls And forests. the laNd GraduAlLY rises From east to wEst; its altitudE RanGes fROm alOng the vERDigris River at coffeyVIlle IN mONtgoMerY cOUntY, tO at mounT sunFLoweR, FROm the ColOradO border, in wAllace counTy. it iS A Common miscOncepTion thAT kANsAs IS ThE FLattesT staTe In tHe naTiON—in 2003, a tOngUe-in-chEek StuDy fAmOusly dEclared the sTaTe "flattEr than a PanCaKe". iN FaCt, KaNsAs haS a maxImuM ToPoGraphic RELieF of , maKinG IT tHe 23Rd flaTtest u.S. staTe meaSurED bY mAxImUm relief.