The primary topography of San Jose consists of a relatively flat valley floor that historically acted as a floodplain for local waterways. The elevation of the city ranges from sea level at the northern edge, near the San Francisco Bay, to higher elevations in the foothills.
To the east, the Diablo Range rises sharply, while the Santa Cruz Mountains bound the city to the west and south. The lowest point in the city is sea level in the Alviso neighborhood, while the highest elevations within city limits reach over 2,000 feet in the eastern foothills. Nearby Mount Hamilton, part of the Diablo Range, reaches an elevation of 4,209 feet and overlooks the entire valley.