Climax

In the biological sciences, a climax is the presumed end point of a successional sequence, at which a biological system, a community, or a soil has reached a steady state. In ecology, Clements' climax theory has been largely replaced by disturbance and gap-phase theories.

See also ecosystem.

For sexual climax, see orgasm.

In a story, the climax is the point of highest drama, generally occurring approximately two-thirds to three-fourths of the way through the text, after the rising action[?] and before the falling action[?]. It is the moment of greatest danger for the hero(s) and usually consists of a seemingly-unfixable failure to reach the goal, followed by a near-miraculous recovery.