Spanish for "table", the word "mesa" refers to flat topped hills scattered across the arid regions of many parts of the world. Mesas are a picturesque feature of many landscapes seen on postcards and travel brochures.
Mesas form through the erosion of plateaus capped by hard rock. Cliffs form and then start to retreat, as the soft layers beneath the plateau's rocky cap erode away. Eventually enough soft rock wears away for the cliffs to break off, forming the mesa.
Mesas are distinguished by deep red or yellow color, flat tops, and steep, nearly perpendicular sides. The exposed layers of rock in the sides of mesas are almost perfectly horizontal.
Mesas are an iconic element of arid regions in many parts of the world, such as the Southwestern United States, Spain, Sardinia, Africa, Arabia, India and Australia . Some famous mesas are Tucumcari Mountain, near the town of Tucumcari, New Mexico; the Island in the Sky in Canyonlands National Park in Utah; and Grand Mesa, near Grand Junction Colorado, which is the world's largest.
