Butte near Sedona, Arizona

A butte (IPA: /bju:t/) is an isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small flat top, smaller than mesas, plateaus, and tables. 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 standard^{[citation needed]} 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 greater than three times its height, while a butte's top is less than three times its height.^{[citation needed]}

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.

External links

• "Mesas and Buttes" photographs and examples

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Butte". Image Credit.

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