Butte
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A butte (pronounced /ˈbjuːt/) is an isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; smaller than mesas, plateaus, and tables. In some regions the word is simply used for any hill. The word "butte" comes from a French word meaning "small hill"; its use is prevalent in the western United States, including the southwest where "mesa" is also used.
One standard holds that a mesa has a surface area over 1,000 square metres (11,000 sq ft), while a butte has a surface area less than 1,000 m². 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.[1]
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[edit] Formation
Buttes are formed by erosion when a cap of hard rock, often of volcanic origin, called cap rock, 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. Also, Crested Butte in Colorado. On a much smaller scale, the same process forms hoodoos.
 Black Butte, near Sisters, Oregon |
 Signal Butte near Big Spring, Texas[2] |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Mesa and Butte". Science Clarified. 2008. http://www.scienceclarified.com/landforms/Faults-to-Mountains/Mesa-and-Butte.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-30.
- ^ Hill, R.T. 1890. A brief description of the Cretaceous rocks of Texas and their economic value. In: Dumble, E.T. (ed.), First Annual Report of the Geological Survey of Texas, 1889. Austin: State Printing Office, pp. 105-141.
[edit] External links
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