A couple of points: First, relief maps typically employ a significant vertical exaggeration, so they're not good indicators of the actual abruptness of a slope. (Admittedly, Katahdin does rise quite steeply.) Second, it's nowhere near the tallest in the Appalachiansthere are five taller mountains in New Hampshire, three in Virginia, forty-three or so in Tennessee, and more than fifty in North Carolina. (Admittedly, Katahdin is by far the tallest mountain in Maine.) My proposed wording: From the low lake country to the south and east, Katahdin's abrupt slopes and great vertical prominence dominate the landscape."65.213.77.129