PLATEAUS
Dr. Sunita Singh
Department of Geography
Central University of South Bihar
PLATEAU:
➢ Significant relief feature of second order.
➢ According to Finch and Trewartha “ Tabular uplands
having a relief of more than 500 feet .
➢ Plateaus are extensive upland areas characterized by flat
and rough top surface, steep side walls which rise above
the neighbouring ground surface at 300m.
➢ The surfaces of the plateau may be plain, very flat, rolling
or hilly or may be dissected by streams and glaciers.
➢ Some plateaus are surrounded by hills and
mountains e.g. Tibetan Plateau.
➢ Some are bordered by hills and mountains on one
side while they are bordered by plains or coastal
areas on the other side e.g. Piedmont plateau of
the USA.
➢ Some are very extensive in areal context. E.g.
Deccan plateau.
Origin and Evolution of Plateaus
➢ Due to downwarping of surrounding areas.
➢ Due to upwarping of some portion of an extensive land
mass by a few hundred meters in relation to
surrounding ground surface. E.g. western patlands of
Ranchi and Palamau.
➢ Due to deposition of thick covers of basaltic lavas e.g.
Columbian plateau (USA),Mahabaleshwar plateau.
➢ Sometimes, the adjoining areas of mountains are not
folded but are raised .Such unfolded but upwarped
regions become plateau.
➢ The marginal sediments of geosynclines are
folded into parallel marginal ranges and the
middle portion of the geosyncline remains
unaffected by compressive forces. Such unfolded
middle portion of geosynclines bordered by
marginal mountain ranges forms plateau.
➢ Some are formed when extensive mountains are
transformed into low uplands having high rugged
surfaces due to prolonged denudation. e.g.
Applachian mountains.
➢ Thick deposits of loose materials by wind also
form plateaus. E.g. Loess plateau of China.
Classification of Plateaus:
1. According to mode of origin:
A. Simple plateau
I. Plateaus formed by exogenetic processes.
i. Glacial plateau e.g. Garhwal plateau
ii. Aeolian plateau e.g. Loess plateau
B. Compound plateau
2. Plateaus formed by endogenetic processes.
i. Intermontane plateau e.g. Tibettan plateau
ii. Piedmont plateau e.g. Appalachian plateau
iii. Dome plateau e.g. Chhotanagpur plateau
iv. Lava plateau e.g. Mahabaleshwar plateau
2. Classification according to geographical
situation:
I. Intermontane Plateau e.g. Columbian Plateau
II. Piedmont Plateau e.g. Applachian Plateau
III. Continental Plateau e.g. Deccan Plateau
IV. Coastal Plateau e.g. Coromandal coast
3. Classification on the basis of shape and size:
I. Dome shaped Plateau e.g. Chhotanagpur Plateau
II. Dissected Plateau e.g. Deccan Plateau
III. Step – like Plateau e.g. Kaimur Plateau
IV. Flat – topped Plateau [Link] Plateau
V. Rejuvenated peneplain Plateau e.g. Patlands of
Ranchi and Palamau.
4. Classification on the basis of surface
configuration:
I. Uneven Plateau e.g. Applachian Plateau
II. Tableland Plateau e.g. Mahabaleshwar Plateau
5. Classification on the basis of climate:
I. Desert or arid Plateau e.g. Arabian Plateau
II. Humid Plateau e.g. Shillong Plateau
III. Ice - capped Plateau e.g. Greenland Plateau
6. Classification on the basis of stage of erosion:
I. Young Plateau e.g. Mahabaleshwar Plateau
II. Mature Plateau e.g. Ranchi Plateau
III. Old Plateau e.g. Deccan Plateau
[Link] Plateau e.g. Missouri Plateau
Lava Plateaus
• consist of numerous lava flows laid down at different times
• sometimes alternating with lake beds, stream deposits,
layers of volcanic ash
• quite often built up by fissure flows
• sometimes closely spaced central eruptions also create
plateaus
