mesa
Meaning: A flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides, typically found in arid and semi-arid regions, wider and larger than a butte.
Mesas are iconic features of the American Southwest, formed when erosion strips away softer rock surrounding a harder capstone layer, leaving an elevated flat surface. The word comes from Spanish for 'table', perfectly describing their shape. Mesas are similar to buttes but larger — as a mesa erodes further, it may shrink to become a butte. While most commonly associated with the American landscape, similar landforms exist in other arid regions worldwide.
Examples
- The ancient pueblo settlement was built atop a mesa, providing natural defence and commanding views of the surrounding desert. 古代的普韦布洛聚落建在方山顶部,拥有天然的防御优势和周围沙漠的开阔视野。El antiguo asentamiento pueblo fue construido en lo alto de una mesa, lo que proporcionaba una defensa natural y vistas dominantes del desierto circundante.古代プエブロの集落はメサの頂上に築かれ、天然の防御と周囲の砂漠を見渡す眺望を備えていました。고대 푸에블로 정착지는 메사 꼭대기에 건설되어 천연의 방어와 주변 사막을 조망하는 탁 트인 시야를 갖추고 있었습니다.
- The mesa rose dramatically from the flat desert floor, its horizontal layers of rock clearly visible in the afternoon light. 方山从平坦的沙漠地面拔地而起,在午后的阳光下,其水平的岩石层清晰可见。La mesa se alzaba espectacularmente desde el llano desértico, con las capas horizontales de roca claramente visibles a la luz de la tarde.メサは平坦な砂漠の地面から劇的にそびえ立ち、午後の光の中で水平な岩石の層がはっきりと見えました。메사는 평평한 사막 바닥에서 극적으로 솟아올라 있었고, 오후 햇살 속에 수평적인 암석층이 선명하게 보였습니다.
- Erosion over millions of years had reduced the once-vast mesa to a series of isolated buttes and pinnacles. 经过数百万年的侵蚀,曾经广阔的方山被削减为一系列孤立的孤峰和尖岩。La erosión a lo largo de millones de años había reducido la otrora vasta mesa a una serie de cerros testigo y pináculos aislados.何百万年にもわたる浸食により、かつて広大だったメサは一連の孤立したビュートや尖塔に縮小されていました。수백만 년에 걸친 침식으로 한때 광대했던 메사는 일련의 고립된 뷰트와 첨탑으로 축소되었습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Spanish mesa (table), from Latin mensa (table). Entered English in the 18th century through exploration of the Spanish-influenced American Southwest.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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