What are the similarities and differences between a butte, a mesa, and a plateau?
Butte : Is a small isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides.
Mesa : Is a bigger hill with steep sides and flat top like a table, mesa is a Spanish word for table.
Plateau : Is an elevated landmass with one or more steep sides spread over a large area.
Similarities:
1. All have
(a) flat top surface
(b) steep slopes
2. Erosional activity is common in all Buttes, all Mesas and some Plateaus.
Differences :
Size : Plateau > Mesa > Butte
Way of Formation
Plateau : Formed due to numerous reasons like tectonic, volcanic or erosional activity.
Mesa : Once a plain, continuous erosion of surrounding areas makes an elevated landmass shape.
Butte : Continued erosion by wind and water reduces the mesa into small flat hills called buttes.
Earthcache Tasks. Please submit answers for the following questions to the cache owner.
- Do you see a plateau? What direction is the plateau from the listed coordinates? Is the plateau higher or lower than where you are standing? Why?
- Do you see a mesa? What direction is the mesa from the listed coordinates? Is the mesa higher or lower than where you are standing? Why?
- Do you see a butte? What direction is the butte from the listed coordinates? Is the butte higher or lower than where you are standing? Why?