Plateaus are elevated, flat landforms that rise distinctly above their surrounding areas. Some are shaped by the interplay of geological forces, like tectonic collisions or volcanic activity, while others evolve gradually as wind and rain erosion sculpts them. Found on every continent, plateaus can vary immensely in size and altitude. From the Altiplano of South America to the colossal Tibetan Plateau in Asia, these are five of Earth’s major plateaus you should know.
Altiplano – South America
Spanning parts of Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, the Altiplano is one of the world’s largest plateaus. It’s a collection of intermontane basins set at around 12,000 feet, where the Andes mountains reach their widest point. The plateau is defined by unique landscapes and geological features. Toward the north is Bolivia’s Lake Titicaca, which is the world’s highest navigable lake. Bordering the southwest side of the Altiplano is the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. The Altiplano is also where you’ll find salt flats such as Argentina’s Salinas Grandes and Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni.
Although characterized by harsh, high-altitude environments, the Altiplano has been inhabited for centuries. Pre-Columbian cultures such as the Chiripa, Tiwanaku, and Inca peoples all flourished here. On the southern shores of Lake Titicaca are the UNESCO-listed ruins of the Tiwanaku political and spiritual center. Today, the region remains a home for populations of the Aymara and Quechua peoples.
Colorado Plateau – United States
Famous for its multicolored buttes, canyons, and mesas, the Colorado Plateau is a 150,000-square-mile showcase of Earth’s history. It’s located in an area called the Four Corners, where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah all meet. The plateau’s elevation ranges from canyon bottoms at 2,461 feet to 12,600-foot-tall mountain peaks. Grass and shrublands like sagebrush are common at the lowest elevations, while juniper, pine, and pinyon woodlands thrive in the higher regions. Much of the landscape has been shaped over millennia by the Colorado River.
The Colorado Plateau contains one of the world’s largest concentrations of national parks and monuments. Highlights include Grand Canyon National Park and Arches National Park, home to the densest concentration of natural stone arches on the planet. From backcountry hiking in Utah’s San Rafael Swell to paddling through Desolation Canyon, the entire region is a playground for outdoor adventures.
Ethiopian Highlands – Ethiopia
Dubbed the “Roof of Africa,” the Ethiopian Highlands are home to about 80% of Africa’s tallest mountains. Rising over 14,000 feet, these peaks are some of the oldest landforms on the planet, created around 75 million years ago when magma from Earth’s mantle raised a huge dome of ancient rock. Later, the Great Rift Valley split the highlands into two sections. The tallest point of the northern section is 14,930-foot Ras Dashen, while the highest in the southern section is 14,360-foot Tullu Demtu.
Simien Mountains National Park, which shelters Ras Dashen, is a major highlight of the northwestern highlands. It’s home to unique animal species, including the gelada baboon and Walia ibex, along with the country’s largest lake, Lake Tana. The lake is the source of the Blue Nile, which is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile River. Around 40 churches and monasteries surround the lake, some dating back to the 14th century.
Mexican Plateau – Mexico
The Mexican Plateau, or Mexican Altiplano, is a vast and diverse region spanning northern and central Mexico. It consists of two main segments: the Northern Plateau (Mesa del Norte) and the Central Plateau (Mesa Central). Bordered by the U.S. to the north and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt to the south, the Mexican Plateau is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental ranges. These mountains shape the plateau’s climate, contributing to its arid northern and temperate central regions. The plateau’s topography includes a combination of vast plains, flat-topped hills, and deep river valleys.
Inhabited for millennia by various Indigenous groups, the Mexican Plateau is rich in cultural attractions. About 90 minutes from Mexico City, Teotihuacan is a UNESCO-protected archaeological complex known as the “City of the Gods.” This pre-Columbian city was built between the first and seventh centuries and is home to well-preserved pyramids and religious buildings. The region is also home to major cities such as Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende.
Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau – Asia
Known as the “Roof of the World,” the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest plateau in the world. It occupies around 970,000 square miles in China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bhutan. Stretching about 1,700 miles from east to west, it’s bounded by mountain ranges including the Himalayas, Altun, and Kunlun. The plateau has an average elevation of around 14,760 feet, with 29,032-foot-tall Mount Everest marking its tallest point. Besides mountains, notable characteristics of the plateau include glacial lakes, sprawling ice fields, and alpine meadows.
Several of Asia’s major rivers begin in the plateau, such as the Ganges, Mekong, and Yangtze. The most prominent group here are the Tibetan peoples, who are historically linked with the practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Their spiritual home is the city of Llhasa, the location of the seventh-century Potala Palace. Nomadic herding communities continue to live and carry out their ancient customs around the region, typically moving between pastures according to the seasons with animals that contribute to their sustenance and trade.
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