The height above sea level (also known as sea level) is the vertical distance of a specific point in relation to a defined zero level. This zero level is either based on a mean sea level determined by local measurements or it is determined by definition. As the choice of datum varies from country to country, elevations are generally independent of the actual sea level.
For land surveying, either the mean value of a coastal level or a datum point inland is often used as the reference altitude. A coastal level is orientated to a mean sea level and serves as a starting point for height measurements. A datum point, on the other hand, is a fixed reference point inland that is defined independently of sea level and serves as the basis for a standardised height reference system. The official elevation systems in Europe with their respective coastal levels:
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