Quick Scoop

A mesa is a flat-topped hill or plateau with steep sides, usually formed when softer rock erodes away but a harder caprock stays on top.

A simple way to picture it: it looks like a table-shaped landform rising above the surrounding land.

Key points

  • Shape: flat top, steep sides.
  • How it forms: erosion wears away softer rock, leaving tougher rock behind.
  • Meaning of the word: “mesa” comes from Spanish for table.
  • Related landforms: it is similar to a butte , but a mesa usually has a wider top.

Example

The Grand Mesa in Colorado is one of the best-known mesas.

If you want, I can also give you a one-sentence definition or a mesa vs. butte comparison.