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Altitude is commonly expressed as a number defining the distance in layers above the base of the game environment, which is Layer zero (0). Sea Level is recognized as Layer 64, and the top of the game environment is Layer 127. Specifically, the bottom face of the bottommost bedrock block is at Y coordinate 0. This block is said to be in Layer 0. The top face of the highest block that can be placed is at Y coordinate 128. This block is said to be in Layer 127. The player can press F3 to see what Y coordinate the player's eye is currently at, with the player's eye located 1.6 blocks above the layer the player is standing on. For example, a player standing on a shore of an ocean will see their Y coordinate as approximately 65.6.

This range of numbers can be expressed in only 8 bits, a very common limit to many programming languages and applications.

Natural resources and altitude

Landscape features are found at different altitudes, as shown in this graph:

Blockcount.beta.1.7.3

Beware the logarithmic scale: a slight difference in the y coordinate means a large increase in relative frequency of this block type.

See the following table for a textual description of resources by altitude and tools needed to gather them.

Landscape Feature Complete range[1] Commonly found between Ideal layer[2] Implement needed to obtain
Coal ore Layers 1-115 Layers 5-52 Layer 49 Wood or better pickaxe
Gravel Layers 1-114 Layers 5-62 Layer 49 None
Dirt (including Grass) Layers 0-119 Layers 5-71 Layer 68 None
Sand Layers 46-111 Layers 59-63 Layer 61 None
Water Layers 1-106 Layers 61-63 Layer 63 Bucket
Iron ore Layers 1-67 Layers 5-52 Layer 50 Stone or better pickaxe
Gold ore Layers 1-35 Layers 5-32 Layer 33 Iron or better pickaxe
Lapis Lazuli ore Layers 1-34 Layers 14-22 Layer 18 Stone or better pickaxe
Lava Layers 1-91 Layers 5-10 Layer 9 Bucket
Obsidian Layers 2-61 Layer 10 Layer 10 Diamond pickaxe
Diamond ore Layers 1-19 Layers 5-17 Layer 16 Iron or better pickaxe
Redstone ore[3] Layers 1-19 Layers 5-17 Layer 16 Iron or better pickaxe
Bedrock Layers 0-4 Layers 0-2 Layer 0 n/a
  1. The range in which the block can be found in the example map.
  2. The layer where getting that resource is easiest. We consider the amount of lava/water lakes, the amount of caves, the altitude (and if it is at the surface), and the amount of gravel/sand.
  3. Redstone has the same layer and line-size statistics as Diamond, but is generated 8 times per chunk as opposed to 1.


Other naturally occurring features appear at different altitudes such as grass, wood, flowers, mushrooms, clay, cobble, sugar cane and Obsidian, but all of these features are random and must appear in conjunction with another block and the proper environment to appear.

Feature Requires
Grass Dirt and Light
Sugar Cane Dirt and Water
Wood Dirt and Light
Cactus Sand
Flowers Dirt and Light
Mushrooms Dry land and darkness
Clay Sand
Obsidian Lava and Water
Cobble Lava and Water or Dungeons
Mossy Cobblestone Dungeons

Trivia

File:Darkening at the top layer.png

The darkening when standing on the last layer.

  • As of Beta 1.6, solid blocks cannot be placed on layer 127. However, beds can still be placed on layer 127, making it possible to place beds at the highest possible altitude. This has also been proven to work with signs, torches and other transparent blocks.
  • When at the highest level of a map in Beta, the edges of the screen will fade to black, simulating thinning air.
  • Although the maximum height a player can reach through the use of blocks is at layer 130 (stand on a block at layer 127, jump), you can still make a TNT cannon blasting the player upwards to go many layers past the sky level. Similarly, falling into the Void will have the player go many blocks under the lowest layer in the map.
  • In 1.7, climbing to the top layer and jumping while carrying a block in your hand will result in the block turning black for a split second

Similarly, mods that allow the player to fly will allow you to go above the normal limit. When the player goes too high, the world fades from view quite rapidly, leaving them surrounded by a deeper blue, similar to the Void. If they fly downwards, or turn off the flying ability, they will fall back to the normal world (certainly dying from fall damage unless protected).

  • As of the 1.8 Pre-Release, the player's view distance decreases in lower altitudes.
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