Butte
Isolated hill with steep sides and flat top.
A butte is an isolated hill characterized by steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top, making it a smaller landform than a mesa, plateau, or tableland. The term originates from the French word for "knoll" and is commonly used in the Western United States, particularly the Southwest, where the word "mesa" describes the larger counterpart. Geographers apply a simple rule to distinguish the two: a mesa has a top that is wider than its height, while a butte has a top that is narrower than its height. Their distinctive shapes often make buttes prominent landmarks in plains and mountainous regions.
Buttes form through weathering and erosion when a hard caprock sits above a layer of less resistant rock. The harder caprock resists erosion, protecting the softer rock below from wind abrasion, which leaves the structure standing isolated. As the top erodes further, falling material accumulates as scree or talus around the base. On a much smaller scale, the same process creates hoodoos. Notable examples include the Mitten Buttes of Monument Valley on the Utah–Arizona border, which are among the most recognizable and frequently appear in Western films, including seven directed by John Ford. Thumb Butte, overlooking Prescott, Arizona, is another well-photographed landmark. Devils Tower in Wyoming is a laccolithic butte composed of igneous rock rather than sedimentary layers. The term butte is sometimes applied more broadly to steep-sided hills with pointed or craggy tops, such as Scotts Bluff in Nebraska, Crested Butte in Colorado, and Elephant Butte in New Mexico. Other non-flat-topped buttes include Bear Butte in South Dakota, Black Butte in Oregon, and the Sutter Buttes in California. Some hills that are technically not buttes, like Kamiak Butte in Washington, still carry the name.
- field
- Geomorphology
- known_for
- Isolated hill with steep sides and small flat top; smaller than a mesa
- distinguishing_rule
- Top narrower than its height
- formation_process
- Weathering and erosion of caprock over less resistant rock
- notable_examples
- Mitten Buttes, Thumb Butte, Devils Tower
Lore & Background
In geomorphology, a butte is an isolated hill distinguished by steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat summit. It is a smaller landform than a mesa, plateau, or tableland. The word originates from the French term for a knoll of any size, and its use is especially common in the Western United States, particularly the Southwest, where the French word is applied to the larger mesa. Geographers use a simple rule to differentiate the two: a mesa has a top wider than its height, while a butte has a top narrower than its height. Because of their distinctive shapes, buttes frequently serve as landmarks in both plains and mountainous areas.
Buttes form through weathering and erosion when a hard caprock sits above a layer of softer, more easily eroded rock. The caprock resists erosion and protects the underlying softer rock from wind abrasion, leaving the butte standing alone as the surrounding material is worn away. As the top erodes further from abrasion and weathering, the loosened material falls and accumulates as scree or talus around the base. The same process, on a much smaller scale, creates hoodoos. Notable examples include the Mitten Buttes of Monument Valley on the Utah–Arizona border, which provided backdrops for many Western films, and Thumb Butte near Prescott, Arizona. Devils Tower in Wyoming is a laccolithic butte composed of igneous rock rather than sedimentary stone. The term butte is sometimes applied more broadly to steep-sided hills with pointed or craggy tops, such as Scotts Bluff in Nebraska, Crested Butte in Colorado, and Elephant Butte in New Mexico. Other well-known non-flat-topped buttes include Bear Butte in South Dakota, Black Butte in Oregon, and the Sutter Buttes in California. Some formations technically not buttes, like Kamiak Butte in Washington, still carry the name.
Reader's Guide
Buttes are significant as distinctive landmarks in plains and mountainous areas, frequently appearing in Western-themed films. The Mitten Buttes of Monument Valley, on the Utah–Arizona state line, are among the most recognized, providing backdrops for seven movies directed by John Ford. Thumb Butte in northern Arizona is a prominent geologic landmark overlooking Prescott. Devils Tower in Wyoming is a laccolithic butte composed of igneous rock, unlike typical sedimentary buttes. The term is sometimes applied more broadly to steep-sided hills with pointed or craggy tops, such as Scotts Bluff in Nebraska, Crested Butte in Colorado, and Elephant Butte in New Mexico. Other non-flat-topped buttes include Bear Butte, Black Butte, and the Sutter Buttes. Some hills technically not buttes bear the name, like Kamiak Butte and Steptoe Butte in Washington.
Did You Know?
- The word butte comes from the French word 'butte,' meaning 'knoll.'
- Geographers use the rule of thumb that a butte has a top narrower than its height, while a mesa's top is wider.
- The Mitten Buttes of Monument Valley provided backgrounds for seven movies directed by John Ford.
- Devils Tower in Wyoming is a laccolithic butte composed of igneous rock, not sedimentary rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a butte in geomorphology?
A butte is an isolated hill characterized by steep, often near-vertical sides and a small, relatively flat summit. It sits below mesas, plateaus, and tablelands in overall size.
How do I tell a butte apart from a mesa?
The standard rule is simple: if the flat top is narrower than the feature's height, it's a butte; if the top is wider than the height, it's a mesa.
What process creates a butte?
A hard caprock layer shields the softer rock beneath it from wind abrasion and weathering. As the surrounding landscape erodes away over time, the protected column is left standing as an isolated butte.
Where are buttes most commonly seen?
The term is especially prevalent across the Western United States, with the Southwest region hosting some of the most iconic examples.
Can you name some well-known buttes?
Mitten Buttes, Thumb Butte, and Devils Tower are frequently cited as notable examples of the landform.
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