Plateaus and Mesas

Graphic artwork of pronghorn antelope standing in yellow grass with mountains and sun in background
Plateaus and Mesas artwork by D. Caldwell for the NPS.
Plateaus are large, elevated, flat areas that extend for many miles above the surrounding land. They have a steep slope or vertical cliffs on at least one side. Plateaus are formed by several processes including tectonic plate collisions, volcanic magma upwelling, lava extrusion, and erosion by glaciers and water.

Plateaus are often exposed to erosion more than other landforms because of their high elevation and flatness. Significant erosion can carve a plateau into smaller units called mesas. Mesas (Spanish for tables) are wide, isolated, flat-topped mountains or hills with steep sides. Erosion carries away smaller, softer materials, so both plateaus and mesas are topped with the remaining hard, durable caprock surface. While plateaus can be found across the country, mesas are most often found in the Southwestern states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.

There are National Natural Landmarks designated for their plateaus and mesas nationwide. Some of these include:

Raton Mesa, CO
Panola Mountain, GA
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field, ID
The Island, OR
Steptoe and Kamiak Buttes, WA
Bear Rocks and Allegheny Front Preserve, WV

Last updated: July 25, 2024

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