<p>First of all, a plateau as an area of flat topography which stands at higher elevation than the surrounding region; it does not need to be at high elevation in absolute terms. Indeed, there are plateaux below sea level.</p>

<p>There are several different processes at the origin of the plateaux in the map you link.</p>

<p>Some, such as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Plateau" rel="noreferrer">Deccan</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Plateau_(ecoregion)" rel="noreferrer">Columbia</a> plateau, are the results of infill of volcanic rocks in an accomodation space during voluminous volcanic eruptions, called "flood basalts". These flood basalts effectively flow into topographic depressions, thus flattening the topography and resulting in a plateau.
Note that there are also <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_plateau" rel="noreferrer">oceanic plateaux</a> which are formed by large magma outpours- they are usually below sea level. Examples of this are the Caribbean Oceanic Plateau and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontong_Java_Plateau" rel="noreferrer">Ontong-Java</a> plateau.</p>

<p>Other plateaux such as the Altiplano and Loess plateau appear to be a result of basin infill by mainly sedimentary processes, either by water or wind transport. Past erosion removed material from topographic highs and dumped it in topographic lows, thus flattening out the relief. This is effectively a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peneplain" rel="noreferrer">peneplenation</a> process operating locally.</p>

<p>Although the high elevation of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Plateau" rel="noreferrer">Tibetan plateau</a> is undoubtedly due to tectonic uplift, the cause of flat topography appears is likely to reflect relief reduction by combined erosion and deposition as above. It is unclear whether this was an ancient peneplain which was pushed upwards, or a more recent feature. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-04T13:06:52.917Z
So could you explain why the Altiplano doesn't parallel the entire Andes, or the Colorado the entire Rockies?
JohnWDailey
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-04T13:52:55.507Z
This depends on multiple factors. Firstly, the local topography: if there is only a narrow mountain belt, eroded material will wash down into the plains or into the ocean rather than accumulating in a high elevation basin. If the mountain belt is wider, the eroded material is more likely to be trapped. Secondly, it depends on local climate. Higher rainfall for example provides more medium for enabling erosion. The Altiplano is very arid at present, but the presence of lots of salt suggests that it is not currently receiving a significant amount of material. Climate varies over short distances.
Geochron
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-04T13:59:57.850Z
Climate also varies significantly over time, as we know. The Altiplano is located in an area where the Andes are exceptionally wide. One theory is that localised flat slab subduction resulted in the width of the Andes here.
Geochron
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-04T07:35:39.253Z
2018-09-04T07:35:39.253Z
Geochron
<p>Any time I hear the word "plateau", I usually associate it with the tallest in the world, Tibet.  Anyone who looks closely at a map will see that the southern line of the plateau parallels the location and length of the Himalayas, leading to the assumption that the collision between India and mainland Asia, which resulted in the formation of the Himalayas, also forced Tibet upwards, creating the highest great plain on Earth.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.pmfias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Major-plateaus-of-the-World-upsc-ias.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">But as the link here shows, it's not so simple.</a></p>

<p>The Altiplano is classified as a plateau, yet it does not span the entire length of the entire Andes, the longest mountain range in the world.  Nor does the Colorado parallel the whole length of the Rockies.</p>

<p>So if a plateau is not formed as originally lowlands forced upwards by nearby mountain-building, then how does it REALLY form?</p>

<plate-tectonics><mountains><tibetan-plateau>
How Do Plateaus Really Form?
JohnWDailey
# How Do Plateaus Really Form?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-12)

Any time I hear the word "plateau", I usually associate it with the tallest in the world, Tibet. Anyone who looks closely at a map will see that the southern line of the plateau parallels the location and length of the Himalayas, leading to the assumption that the collision between India and mainland Asia, which resulted in the formation of the Himalayas, also forced Tibet upwards, creating the highest great plain on Earth.

[But as the link here shows, it's not so simple.](https://www.pmfias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Major-plateaus-of-the-World-upsc-ias.jpg)

The Altiplano is classified as a plateau, yet it does not span the entire length of the entire Andes, the longest mountain range in the world. Nor does the Colorado parallel the whole length of the Rockies.

So if a plateau is not formed as originally lowlands forced upwards by nearby mountain-building, then how does it REALLY form?

**Tags:** plate-tectonics, mountains, tibetan-plateau


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-09-04. Score: 6

First of all, a plateau as an area of flat topography which stands at higher elevation than the surrounding region; it does not need to be at high elevation in absolute terms. Indeed, there are plateaux below sea level.

There are several different processes at the origin of the plateaux in the map you link.

Some, such as the [Deccan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Plateau) and the [Columbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Plateau_(ecoregion)) plateau, are the results of infill of volcanic rocks in an accomodation space during voluminous volcanic eruptions, called "flood basalts". These flood basalts effectively flow into topographic depressions, thus flattening the topography and resulting in a plateau.
Note that there are also [oceanic plateaux](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_plateau) which are formed by large magma outpours- they are usually below sea level. Examples of this are the Caribbean Oceanic Plateau and the [Ontong-Java](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontong_Java_Plateau) plateau.

Other plateaux such as the Altiplano and Loess plateau appear to be a result of basin infill by mainly sedimentary processes, either by water or wind transport. Past erosion removed material from topographic highs and dumped it in topographic lows, thus flattening out the relief. This is effectively a [peneplenation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peneplain) process operating locally.

Although the high elevation of the [Tibetan plateau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Plateau) is undoubtedly due to tectonic uplift, the cause of flat topography appears is likely to reflect relief reduction by combined erosion and deposition as above. It is unclear whether this was an ancient peneplain which was pushed upwards, or a more recent feature.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So could you explain why the Altiplano doesn't parallel the entire Andes, or the Colorado the entire Rockies?  
> **username_1**: This depends on multiple factors. Firstly, the local topography: if there is only a narrow mountain belt, eroded material will wash down into the plains or into the ocean rather than accumulating in a high elevation basin. If the mountain belt is wider, the eroded material is more likely to be trapped. Secondly, it depends on local climate. Higher rainfall for example provides more medium for enabling erosion. The Altiplano is very arid at present, but the presence of lots of salt suggests that it is not currently receiving a significant amount of material. Climate varies over short distances.  
> **username_1**: Climate also varies significantly over time, as we know. The Altiplano is located in an area where the Andes are exceptionally wide. One theory is that localised flat slab subduction resulted in the width of the Andes here.  

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