A butte (IPAEng: bju:t) is an isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small flat top, smaller than mesas, plateaus, and tables. In some regions the word is simply used for any hill. Buttes are prevalent in the western United States. The word "butte" comes from a French word meaning "small hill"; its use is prevalent in the western United States except the southwest, where "mesa" is used instead.

Distinction from mesa

One standardFact: date=June 2008 holds that a mesa has a surface area over 1,000 square meters, while a butte has a surface area less than 1,000 square meters (11,250 square feet). Geographers use the rule of thumb that a mesa has a top that is wider than its height, while a butte's top is narrower than its height.

Formation

Buttes are formed by erosion when a cap of hard rock, often of volcanic origin, covers a layer of softer rock that is easily worn away. The hard rock avoids erosion while the soft rock around it wears down. One example of a noted butte is Chimney Rock. On a much smaller scale, the same process forms hoodoos. Image:Butte pdphoto roadtrip 24 bg 021604.jpg|Butte near Sedona, Arizona Image:BlackButteOR_Russell_ric00804.jpg|Black Butte, near Sisters, Oregon Image:Signal Mountain TX 1900.jpg|Signal Butte near Big Spring, Texas

See also

• Plateau
• Dissected plateau
• Mesa
• Potrero
• Tepui
• Tuya

Notes

External links

• "Mesas and Buttes" photographs and examples