TERM OF THE WEEK
mesa: An isolated, flat-topped landform that stands distinctly above the adjacent land area and is bounded by steep slopes or cliffs and is generally capped by erosion resistant, nearly horizontal rock (often lava). Mesas and buttes have similar forms and isolated occurrence. A mesa has a summit area broader than the bounding cliff height. Mesas are most common in arid and semi-arid regions, but are not climatically restricted (Schoeneberger and Wysocki, personal communication, 2013; Jackson, 1997). Compare butte, plateau, cuesta.