Video: Plateau | Definition, Characteristics, Types & Examples

What is a Plateau?

A plateau refers to an elevated flat land located above sea level. It comes from a French word, which means "table land." It is characterized by its low relief, meaning it has little change in its elevation throughout the area. An erosion process called dissection usually occurs around the edges of plateaus.

Types of Plateaus

There are several types of plateaus, which include the following:

• Intermontane Plateaus: This type of plateau is created by tectonic uplifts, which raise a large flat land as a single mass. Intermontane plateaus are located in mountain ranges.
• High Altitude Plateaus: When tectonic plates collide, high altitude plateaus form. An example of this is the Tibetan Plateau located in South-Central Asia. This is also the largest plateau with the highest elevation point. Another example is the Altiplano, found in the Andes in western South America. It literally translates to "high plain."
• Continental Plateaus: A plateau that was not elevated by tectonic collision and is created by the rising movement of rocks in the upper mantle. Examples of this are the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon, and the Ozark Plateau in Missouri, as well as Arkansas.
• Piedmont Plateaus: This plateau can be found between a mountain range and a piedmont, or coastal plain. Although the elevation change is not that drastic, it is enough to form a fall line for waterfalls. An example of a continental plateau is the region between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic coastal plain.
• Volcanic Plateaus: Volcanic plateaus are formed from basalt lava eruptions that occurred millions of years ago. Examples include the Columbia Plateau in Oregon and Washington, Argentina's Parana Plateau, Russia's Siberian Plateau, and India's Deccan Plateau.
• Dissected Plateaus: Erosion takes part in the formation of dissected plateaus. For example, the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau is dissected by the Yangtze and Irrawaddy Rivers. Similarly, the Colorado and Ozark plateaus also undergo dissection through stream erosion.
• Tablelands: Tablelands refer to small, flat lands, and are usually located in desert areas. These are remnants from larger plateaus. An example of this is the mesas in the Southwest United States.